Contradictory statements about the fatal attack on a 20-year-old
The case is causing widespread concern throughout the country. In Bad Oeyhausen, a 20-year-old man died after a brutal attack. A known Syrian is suspected of the fatal assault. Politicians are calling for a different approach to dealing with criminal migrants. However, many questions about the incident remain open.
In the case of the fatal attack on a 20-year-old man in the Kurpark of Bad Oeynhausen, investigations are being intensified into the perpetration, motive, and background of the crime. The 18-year-old suspect, who is in custody for manslaughter and grievous bodily harm, had not previously known his alleged victim, according to Bielefeld Prosecutor Christoph Mackel. The case has caused widespread shock and mourning. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser expressed her shock in Berlin. "This is really very, very sad," she said. Her condolences go to the victim's parents. The young man had died a few days after the attack in the hospital.
According to current knowledge, the victim and his companions were sitting on a bench in the park, and the suspect and at least two companions were sitting nearby. He reportedly attacked his victim suddenly. The victim tried to flee, fell to the ground, and the suspect hit and stomped on his head. The motive is unclear.
Several witnesses, who were in the vicinity of the crime scene, have reported to the investigators, as Mackel reported. It is still open whether there are further suspects to be considered - and how many people that could be. Initially, the police and prosecutors were speaking of a group of approximately ten people they were looking for as suspects. Several companions of the 18-year-old Syrian - young Germans - have been questioned, they are not being led as suspects but as witnesses, the prosecutor said. They stated that the 18-year-old had committed the assault alone.
Overall, the investigators see many open questions in this case, despite conflicting statements. A murder commission is currently evaluating further witness statements and is asking for tips from the public.
"A tragic example of our legal system's failure to deal with known criminal migrants," criticized the interior policy spokesman for the FDP state parliamentary group, Marc Lürbke. "It is absolutely unacceptable that a conspicuous criminal offender is able to roam freely and commit such a crime." The suspect had previously attracted attention through violent, property, and drug offense delinquencies, the investigators reported on Thursday. However, he had not been previously convicted.
Nordrhin-Westfalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst stated on Thursday: "This perpetrator must be subjected to a just punishment." Germany needs to "better deal with such intensive offenders, violent offenders, who are not German citizens." Interior Minister Herbert Reul pointed out on Friday in Neuss that the case also raises some "thick questions." For instance, why is violence "on such a rampage" and how can it be curbed. And: "What can be done so that young people no longer grow up believing they can resolve conflicts with their fist or with a knife," Reul said during a visit to a security center for the European Football Championship manned by international police.
Information about the suspect is still preliminary
For the investigations and the legal follow-up of the case, the origin of the suspect is irrelevant, emphasized Christoph Mackel. The public prosecutor's office does not have the alien file on the suspect, therefore he can only make statements about the person under reservation. The 18-year-old remained silent about the accusations.
According to investigators, the Syrian is said to have come to Bad Oeynhausen in October 2023. He is said to have come to Germany in 2016 as part of a family reunification with parents and siblings and initially lived in Pforzheim before moving to Bad Oeynhausen. According to "Westfalen-Blatt" (WB), the 18-year-old and his family lived there as tolerated refugees in an apartment - without state benefits, as the paper reported, citing the city. A defense lawyer who took over the defense of the 18-year-old told the WB that he by no means considers it proven that his client was the main suspect.
The international community is monitoring the situation closely, as questions about justice and accountability arise in the wake of the brutal assault in Bad Oeyhausen. The European Union's Human Rights Agency has expressed concern over the incident, urging Germany to ensure a fair and transparent investigation.
Despite initial reports of a group involvement in the murder and manslaughter case, investigations have revealed that the 18-year-old suspect acted alone, raising further concerns about the effectiveness of the German police in dealing with crime committed by migrants.
