Two youths arrested after throwing stones at A7 motorway in Hamburg
Fourteen and eighteen-year-old suspects allegedly threw approximately 200 stones from a motorway bridge in Hamburg. The public prosecutor's office is charging them with attempted murder.
Arrest following stone attack on motorway
After stones were thrown at the A7 motorway in Hamburg, the public prosecutor's office has charged two youths with attempted murder. A 14-year-old and an 18-year-old are alleged to have thrown approximately 200 fist-sized stones from a motorway bridge onto vehicles on the evening of 3 November. According to n-tv, at least eight cars in the area of the Stellingen Tunnel were damaged; there were no injuries.
Police initially apprehended the two suspects and subsequently released them. A week later, on 10 November, a juvenile investigation judge issued arrest warrants for the two accused, which were executed by the State Criminal Police Office. In addition to attempted murder in seven counts, the youths are also facing charges of property damage and dangerous interference with road traffic.
Further investigations – including witness statements, analysis of vehicle damage and video surveillance footage – led to the suspicion of attempted murder, according to a spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office. Chief Public Prosecutor Mia Sperling-Karstens stated: "Throwing stones from motorway bridges can constitute serious crime and – as in this case – can even raise the suspicion of a (attempted) homicide offence." She characterised the absence of injuries as a "fortunate coincidence".
The State Criminal Police Office is investigating whether the two accused could be responsible for further offences in Hamburg. A week earlier, on 1 November, unknown perpetrators had thrown stones from a bridge in the Bahrenfeld district onto the A7 and damaged two vehicles; a 27-year-old woman was slightly injured. The motorway was temporarily closed in both directions following the initial emergency calls.
Source: n-tv