Latest news with #MarkusMertens
Saudi Gazette
20-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
German police arrest suspect in Bielefeld stabbing attack that injured five people
BERLIN — A suspect who allegedly attacked and injured five people outside a bar in the western German city of Bielefeld has been arrested after an almost two-day search, German media reported. "The detailed work paid off and we were able to arrest the surprised perpetrator," the state interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, told dpa news agency after a man was arrested late on Monday evening in the town of Heiligenhaus near Düsseldorf. According to police, the suspect is a 35-year-old Syrian living in Germany. Early on Sunday, five men between 22 and 27 — football fans celebrating their team, Arminia Bielefeld, securing the league title in the German third division — were attacked by a suspect wielding a sharp object outside a bar in downtown Bielefeld. Four of the men were seriously injured. According to witnesses, the perpetrator attacked his victims indiscriminately with what they called a bladed object. Footage from the crime scene showed forensics securing a weapon — a walking cane with a retractable blade. Other guests at the bar overpowered the man and inflicted facial injuries in the process. He managed to break free and fled on foot, leaving a rucksack behind at the crime scene. Investigators from the "Kurfürst" homicide squad, led by First Chief Inspector Markus Mertens, recovered the rucksack. According to police, it contained further knives. Reul said that "after the shocking crime in Bielefeld" investigators had "picked up and pursued every last lead on the perpetrator" with all the resources available. "Now we need answers as to what motive led the perpetrator to commit the crime," the minister added. — Euronews
Euronews
20-05-2025
- Euronews
German police arrest suspect in Bielefeld stabbing attack
A suspect who allegedly attacked and injured five people outside a bar in the western German city of Bielefeld has been arrested after an almost two-day search, German media reported. "The detailed work paid off and we were able to arrest the surprised perpetrator," the state interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, told dpa news agency after a man was arrested late on Monday evening in the town of Heiligenhaus near Düsseldorf. According to police, the suspect is a 35-year-old Syrian living in Germany. Early on Sunday, five men between 22 and 27 — football fans celebrating their team, Arminia Bielefeld, securing the league title in the German third division — were attacked by a suspect wielding a sharp object outside a bar in downtown Bielefeld. Four of the men were seriously injured. According to witnesses, the perpetrator attacked his victims indiscriminately with what they called a bladed object. Footage from the crime scene showed forensics securing a weapon — a walking cane with a retractable blade. Other guests at the bar overpowered the man and inflicted facial injuries in the process. He managed to break free and fled on foot, leaving a rucksack behind at the crime scene. Investigators from the "Kurfürst" homicide squad, led by First Chief Inspector Markus Mertens, recovered the rucksack. According to police, it contained further knives. Reul said that "after the shocking crime in Bielefeld" investigators had "picked up and pursued every last lead on the perpetrator" with all the resources available. "Now we need answers as to what motive led the perpetrator to commit the crime," the minister added.
Euronews
18-05-2025
- Euronews
Bielefeld: Revellers attacked - police speak of planned assault
Following a stabbing attack in front of a bar in Bielefeld that left several people injured, police in the North Rhine-Westphalian city are searching for the fugitive perpetrator, who is presumably still armed. According to the emergency services, the attack took place in the city centre early on Sunday morning at around 4.20 am. A previously unknown person is said to have approached the group. According to the police, he then injured several people with a "sharp object". According to the latest reports, at least five people were injured, three of them seriously. According to witnesses, the perpetrator attacked his victims indiscriminately with a knife and a cane sword. Footage from the crime scene shows forensics securing a weapon - a walking stick with a retractable blade. Other guests overpowered the attacker and inflicted facial injuries in the process. Nevertheless, he managed to break away and flee on foot. He left a rucksack at the scene of the crime. Investigators from the "Kurfürst" homicide squad, led by First Chief Inspector Markus Mertens, recovered the rucksack from the area around the crime scene. According to BILD, it contained further weapons, a bottle of flammable liquid and a residence permit issued to a Syrian national. According to the newspaper, the police are currently categorising the attack as a premeditated assault. The injured are currently receiving medical treatment in hospitals. The fugitive is around 1.70 metres tall and was reportedly wearing a white T-shirt, a dark jacket and a cap. He may have injuries to his face. The police are asking for information on their info portal and for people to keep their distance from the perpetrator if they see him, as he could still be armed. A homicide squad has been set up.
