Attempted murder: trial begins over explosion in Ratingen
The devastating explosion in a high-rise building in Ratingen will keep the Düsseldorf Regional Court busy from Friday (10.00 a.m.). In the dock, a 57-year-old German man will have to answer for nine counts of attempted murder. On May 11 of this year, he allegedly poured several liters of gasoline on police officers, firefighters and rescue workers and then set them on fire. The gas-air mixture exploded and a fireball injured the emergency services. Several of them fought for their lives for weeks.
The motive for the crime is unclear. The 57-year-old is said to be prone to conspiracy theories and to have stored large quantities of supplies in his apartment. The police had been called to his apartment because of an overflowing letterbox and the smell of decay. The police then discovered the body of the 57-year-old's mother in the apartment. She had presumably died several weeks earlier.
The police counted 35 people injured after the explosion, most of whom were treated for suspected smoke inhalation. Eight of the nine victims were expected to suffer permanent injuries, the public prosecutor's office announced. One policewoman remained in an induced coma for months.
The court has scheduled nine trial days for the criminal proceedings until January 11 of next year.
The explosion in Ratingen involving gasoline and suspected conspiracy theories has raised questions about the processes leading to such a dangerous situation. Despite the severe injuries, investigations are ongoing to understand if any explosive materials were stored in relation to the crime.
Source: www.dpa.com
