Shooting at youth centre in Stade: six dead, suspect detained
A 44-year-old German of Turkish origin shot six adult workers at a social centre in Stade. The motive was a dispute over custody of his three-month-old daughter.
Six killed in shooting at youth centre in Stade, suspect in custody
Six people died today in a shooting at a youth centre in Stade in northern Germany, according to ceskenoviny.cz citing police and agencies DPA, AP and AFP. All victims are adults – four women and two men. The suspected shooter was detained shortly after the attack.
The incident occurred on Dankersstrasse, a street south of the city centre. The centre provides, amongst other things, residential units for mothers with children and offers assistance to young people.
Course of the attack and death toll
Four people were already dead when rescue workers and police arrived. A fifth injured person succumbed to their injuries despite resuscitation attempts at the scene, and a sixth victim died later in hospital. The death toll thus increased during the day from the initially reported five to six.
Several other people suffered serious injuries. A police spokesperson earlier did not rule out that the number of victims could rise further.
Lower Saxony Interior Minister Daniela Behrens confirmed at an afternoon press conference that the attack had no political motive. "The motive was family disputes," she said.
Identity and motive of the suspect
Lüneburg police chief Kathrin Schuol identified the shooter as a 45-year-old German citizen born in Germany with Turkish roots. The man was involved in a dispute over custody of his three-month-old daughter.
His daughter and wife were living in the attacked social centre in Stade. A meeting was scheduled to take place at the centre today where the child's future was to be settled.
Behrens added that all victims were employees of the social centre or the children and youth welfare authority. Residents of the centre were not among the dead.
Detention of suspects
After the attack, the suspect attempted to flee the scene by car. Police stopped him, and according to an eyewitness quoted by the publication Focus, officers used firearms during the operation. A woman was also in the vehicle with him – she was likewise detained.
AFP reported one arrested suspect and two other people detained in connection with a possible link to the incident. The suspect's wife is currently being questioned according to Schuol.
After all suspects were detained, police announced that there was no further danger to the public.
Stade and crime scene
Stade is a city with just under 50,000 residents located on the Elbe river, approximately 40 kilometres west of Hamburg in the state of Lower Saxony.
Source: Google News CZ — Crime (cs)