Process - Explosion in fashion store - father and son in court
A trial for 13 counts of attempted murder has begun in Aachen district court with the reading of the indictment. The accused are a 56-year-old man and his 22-year-old son. They are alleged to have planned and triggered a serious explosion in a fashion store in Eschweiler near Aachen in order to get money from the insurance company for the claim.
The state of the street full of broken glass and debris after the explosion can be described as "post-apocalyptic", said the public prosecutor.
Neighbors were injured by the detonation on the evening of March 30. They suffered smoke inhalation, cuts from broken windows and, in some cases, severe burns from the resulting fire. Four of them had to be treated as inpatients in hospitals and two were temporarily in mortal danger. According to the indictment, the damage to property runs into the millions.
Father: "I am innocent"
The accused son had his defense lawyer explain that he wanted to defend himself in silence. His father, on the other hand, made extensive statements with the help of an interpreter. His son had rented the store, said the 56-year-old. He had also made bank transfers for his son. The store had been a very good success. He had nothing to do with the explosion. "I am innocent," said the man.
The two defendants were remanded in custody a few days after the explosion. The son has German citizenship, his father has Iraqi and German citizenship.
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Source: www.stern.de
