Latest news with #ThomasStrobl
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
German police raid Georgian criminal gang at sites across the country
German police raided a Georgian criminal gang engaged in theft and burglary, searching 18 premises across the country on Wednesday and arresting the suspected ringleader. Stuttgart prosecutors leading the investigation said the raids had taken place in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and North Rhine Westphalia, starting in the early hours and focussing on truck stops which the gang had used to store stolen goods and money. Baden-Württemberg Interior Minister Thomas Strobl said 1,000 officers were involved in the raids which centred on the Stuttgart region. The suspects are reported to belong to Georgian-dominated group linked to criminals from the states of the former Soviet Union. Strobl said the group was involved in drugs and corruption and used violence up to homicide. "This concerns a serious threat that we are acting decisively against. Organized crime is a particular threat to the rule of law and our society," he said. Baden-Württemberg gave high priority to fighting organized crime, he said. "We will not let go and will act over the long term and with great emphasis against organized crime in all its forms," Strobl added.
Morocco World
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Two Killed in Germany's Mannheim Car Ramming Attack
Rabat – A car drove into a crowd in the western German city of Mannheim, leaving two people dead and 11 others injured. Police said they are not linking the motive to be as a result of any 'political background,' but did say the arrested 40-year German suspect is suffering from serious mental health issues. Authorities have revealed that the suspect is a landscape gardener who lives alone, and that they are searching his house for clues. He killed two people – 83-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man. Mannheim's mayor Christian Specht described the incident in a statement posted on the city government's website as 'abhorrent and inhumane.' 'Our thoughts are with the dead and injured, their families and friends,' Mayor says. Germany's State Interior Minister Thomas Strobl said that the incident is similar to recent past incidents in the country in which a car has been misused as a weapon. Echoing the statements from the police, he further explained that the incident has nothing to do with the suspect having any 'extremist or religious background.' As authorities continue their investigations, he added that 'the motivation may rather be rooted in the perpetrator's own personal circumstances.' After the suspect rammed into the crowd he shot himself with a blank-firing gun in the mouth but survived. He is undergoing medical treatment, which is why prosecutors have not been able to question him yet. For her part, Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser describes the incident as a 'terrible act…a horror in broad daylight.' She further described the seemingly calm scene before the attack: 'In the most beautiful weather during the lunch break, when many people are outside, in the middle of a pedestrian zone.' The incident overshadowed carnival celebrations in the region where police had been on alert for attacks. Authorities have canceled carnival events planned for today in the nearby suburbs of Feudenheim, Neckarau, and Sandhofen. Germany's next likely leader, Friedrich Merz, whose conservatives won a national election last month, expressed concerns over the rising number of incidents in the country. 'The incident — like the terrible acts of the past months — serves as a stark reminder: we must do everything possible to prevent such acts.' Security has been a vital concern in Germany following a string of violent attacks in recent weeks, including deadly car rammings in Magdeburg in December and in Munich last month, as well as a stabbing in Mannheim in May 2024. Tags: Car RammingCar Ramming MannheimGermany
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Investigators will question a driver who allegedly rammed a car into a crowd in Germany, killing 2
MANNHEIM, Germany (AP) — Investigators on Tuesday will question a driver who allegedly rammed a car into a crowd in the southwestern German city of Mannheim, killing two people and injuring 11. Andreas Stenger, head of the State Criminal Police Office, told German news agency dpa that police hope the interview with the perpetrator will lead to information about a motive for Monday's attack. Mourners left flowers in the city's center to honor the victims. The suspect is a 40-year-old German man from the nearby state of Rhineland-Palatinate who was detained and is in a hospital after being injured, State Interior Minister Thomas Strobl of Baden-Württemberg, which includes Mannheim, told dpa on Monday. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Strobl later told reporters in Mannheim that "as far as the specific motivation of the crime is concerned, we have no indication of an extremist or religious background at the moment. The motivation could rather be based in the person of the perpetrator himself.' German police and prosecutors said Monday at a joint news conference that the driver intentionally rammed his car into people and is being investigated for murder and attempted murder. Five of the 11 injured were seriously wounded. Police and prosecutors said the driver shot himself in the mouth when he was arrested and had to undergo medical treatment at a hospital. While the driver did not seem to be ideologically motivated, prosecutors said that the man, whose identity was not revealed in line with German privacy rules, has several previous convictions. He served a short prison sentence for assault more than 10 years ago, and was convicted for drunken driving. He had also been investigated for a hate speech offense on Facebook in 2018, for which he was fined, prosecutors said without giving further details. Investigators are also looking into the possibility that the driver may suffer from psychological problems. Cars have been used as deadly weapons in several acts of violence in recent months in Germany. Police said earlier that 'indications of a second perpetrator cannot be confirmed at this stage of the investigation.' They said there was no more danger to the public. Police spokesperson Stefan Wilhelm said a vehicle drove into people on Paradeplatz, a pedestrian street downtown, around noon, when workers come out for lunchbreaks. Local media reported a carnival market was taking place, meaning more visitors than usual in Mannheim, which has a population of 326,000. Mannheim University Hospital said they were treating three people, two adults and a child, dpa reported. The other wounded people were taken to different hospitals in the region. Images from the scene showed parts of the downtown area cordoned off, with a heavy police presence. Officers gathered round a badly damaged black car. Friedrich Merz, who likely will become Germany's next chancellor, wrote on X that 'the incident — as well as the terrible acts of the past few months — is an urgent reminder that we must do everything we can to prevent such acts.' Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X that 'we mourn with the families of the victims of a senseless act of violence." Last month, a 2-year-old girl and her mother died two days after they were injured in a car-ramming attack on a union demonstration in Munich. A 24-year-old Afghan man who came to Germany as an asylum-seeker was arrested, and prosecutors said he appeared to have an Islamic extremist motive. Last year, six people were killed and more than 200 injured when a car slammed into a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg. The suspect, who was arrested, is a 50-year-old doctor originally from Saudi Arabia who had expressed anti-Muslim views and support for the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative For Germany party. ___ Dazio reported from Berlin. Associated Press writers Geir Moulson and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.
The Hill
04-03-2025
- The Hill
Investigators will question a driver who allegedly rammed a car into a crowd in Germany, killing 2
MANNHEIM, Germany (AP) — Investigators on Tuesday will question a driver who allegedly rammed a car into a crowd in the southwestern German city of Mannheim, killing two people and injuring 11. Andreas Stenger, head of the State Criminal Police Office, told German news agency dpa that police hope the interview with the perpetrator will lead to information about a motive for Monday's attack. Mourners left flowers in the city's center to honor the victims. The suspect is a 40-year-old German man from the nearby state of Rhineland-Palatinate who was detained and is in a hospital after being injured, State Interior Minister Thomas Strobl of Baden-Württemberg, which includes Mannheim, told dpa on Monday. Strobl later told reporters in Mannheim that 'as far as the specific motivation of the crime is concerned, we have no indication of an extremist or religious background at the moment. The motivation could rather be based in the person of the perpetrator himself.' German police and prosecutors said Monday at a joint news conference that the driver intentionally rammed his car into people and is being investigated for murder and attempted murder. Five of the 11 injured were seriously wounded. Police and prosecutors said the driver shot himself in the mouth when he was arrested and had to undergo medical treatment at a hospital. While the driver did not seem to be ideologically motivated, prosecutors said that the man, whose identity was not revealed in line with German privacy rules, has several previous convictions. He served a short prison sentence for assault more than 10 years ago, and was convicted for drunken driving. He had also been investigated for a hate speech offense on Facebook in 2018, for which he was fined, prosecutors said without giving further details. Investigators are also looking into the possibility that the driver may suffer from psychological problems. Cars have been used as deadly weapons in several acts of violence in recent months in Germany. Police said earlier that 'indications of a second perpetrator cannot be confirmed at this stage of the investigation.' They said there was no more danger to the public. Police spokesperson Stefan Wilhelm said a vehicle drove into people on Paradeplatz, a pedestrian street downtown, around noon, when workers come out for lunchbreaks. Local media reported a carnival market was taking place, meaning more visitors than usual in Mannheim, which has a population of 326,000. Mannheim University Hospital said they were treating three people, two adults and a child, dpa reported. The other wounded people were taken to different hospitals in the region. Images from the scene showed parts of the downtown area cordoned off, with a heavy police presence. Officers gathered round a badly damaged black car. Friedrich Merz, who likely will become Germany's next chancellor, wrote on X that 'the incident — as well as the terrible acts of the past few months — is an urgent reminder that we must do everything we can to prevent such acts.' Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X that 'we mourn with the families of the victims of a senseless act of violence.' Last month, a 2-year-old girl and her mother died two days after they were injured in a car-ramming attack on a union demonstration in Munich. A 24-year-old Afghan man who came to Germany as an asylum-seeker was arrested, and prosecutors said he appeared to have an Islamic extremist motive. Last year, six people were killed and more than 200 injured when a car slammed into a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg. The suspect, who was arrested, is a 50-year-old doctor originally from Saudi Arabia who had expressed anti-Muslim views and support for the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative For Germany party.
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Associated Press
Investigators will question a driver who allegedly rammed a car into a crowd in Germany, killing 2
BERLIN (AP) — Investigators on Tuesday will question a driver who allegedly rammed a car into a crowd in the southwestern German city of Mannheim, killing two people and injuring 11. Andreas Stenger, head of the State Criminal Police Office, told German news agency dpa that police hope the interview with the perpetrator will lead to information about a motive for Monday's attack. The suspect is a 40-year-old German man from the nearby state of Rhineland-Palatinate who was detained and is in a hospital after being injured, State Interior Minister Thomas Strobl of Baden-Württemberg, which includes Mannheim, told dpa on Monday. Strobl later told reporters in Mannheim that 'as far as the specific motivation of the crime is concerned, we have no indication of an extremist or religious background at the moment. The motivation could rather be based in the person of the perpetrator himself.' German police and prosecutors said Monday at a joint news conference that the driver intentionally rammed his car into people and is being investigated for murder and attempted murder. Five of the 11 injured were seriously wounded. Police and prosecutors said the driver shot himself in the mouth when he was arrested and had to undergo medical treatment at a hospital. While the driver did not seem to be ideologically motivated, prosecutors said that the man, whose identity was not revealed in line with German privacy rules, has several previous convictions. He served a short prison sentence for assault more than 10 years ago, and was convicted for drunken driving. He had also been investigated for a hate speech offense on Facebook in 2018, for which he was fined, prosecutors said without giving further details. Investigators are also looking into the possibility that the driver may suffer from psychological problems. Cars have been used as deadly weapons in several acts of violence in recent months in Germany. Police said earlier that 'indications of a second perpetrator cannot be confirmed at this stage of the investigation.' They said there was no more danger to the public. Police spokesperson Stefan Wilhelm said a vehicle drove into people on Paradeplatz, a pedestrian street downtown, around noon, when workers come out for lunchbreaks. Local media reported a carnival market was taking place, meaning more visitors than usual in Mannheim, which has a population of 326,000. Mannheim University Hospital said they were treating three people, two adults and a child, dpa reported. The other wounded people were taken to different hospitals in the region. Images from the scene showed parts of the downtown area cordoned off, with a heavy police presence. Officers gathered round a badly damaged black car. Friedrich Merz, who likely will become Germany's next chancellor, wrote on X that 'the incident — as well as the terrible acts of the past few months — is an urgent reminder that we must do everything we can to prevent such acts.' Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X that 'we mourn with the families of the victims of a senseless act of violence.' Last month, a 2-year-old girl and her mother died two days after they were injured in a car-ramming attack on a union demonstration in Munich. A 24-year-old Afghan man who came to Germany as an asylum-seeker was arrested, and prosecutors said he appeared to have an Islamic extremist motive. ___
