Processes - Further charges in series of violence
Approximately two years ago, the first shot was fired, followed by numerous others. There were also threats and even a fatal hand grenade attack on a mourning community. The violent feud between two rival groups in the Stuttgart area made headlines for months, and the police investigated meticulously. Now, the justice system is dissecting each incident. One of the larger cases in this series is expected to go to trial soon.
The prosecutor's office has indicted three men on charges of attempted murder. Two 20 and 21-year-old men with German passports are suspected of shooting a rival in Stuttgart's Zuffenhausen neighborhood in March. Their alleged 20-year-old Turkish accomplice disposed of the weapon, according to the prosecutor's office.
The victim, a 34-year-old Turkish man, was shot in the legs and torso and is expected to remain paralyzed from the waist down, the prosecutor's office announced on Friday. The injured man is reportedly a leading figure in the group associated with the region Zuffenhausen and Goppingen. The accused individuals, however, are believed to be from the Esslingen, Ludwigsburg, and Plochingen region.
Another Case Heading to Court
Another suspected case from the series may soon be heard in court. A 21-year-old man from Kosovo and his two alleged 20-year-old accomplices, one with German and one with German-Greek citizenship, are accused of throwing Molotov cocktails through the window of an empty barbershop in Reichenbach an der Fils in September. When the shop was engulfed in flames, they fled, according to the prosecutor's office. They allegedly "committed a cowardly and dangerous act, putting the lives of the residents in the upper floors at risk."
The Stuttgart Regional Court must now decide whether to hear the cases together. This is common after an indictment has been filed. Several members of both groups have already been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in Stuttgart Regional Court trials.
Hundreds of Members
According to earlier estimates by experts, the groups - one roughly assigned to the regions of Esslingen, Ludwigsburg, and Plochingen, and the other to Stuttgart's Zuffenhausen and Goppingen - are believed to have more than 500 members, mostly young people. According to the Landeskriminalamt's statement on Friday, 67 suspected group members have been arrested. 180 search warrants have been executed, 30 firearms have been seized, and around 50 knives have been secured. To date, police have reportedly conducted approximately 300 interviews with people from the groups' circles.
Peace has reigned for months.
In the past few months, the number of incidents has indeed significantly decreased. According to a previous assessment by LKA-President Andreas Stenger, this could be due to ongoing investigations and arrests, as well as ongoing trials and initial verdicts. The last incident occurred on December 12, when four to six masked individuals attacked a suspected opponent in Stuttgart and seriously injured him. On January 11, a hand grenade was found in Urbach. Since then, no crimes have been attributed to the series.
The violent series of crimes in the Stuttgart area has resulted in investigations at the Public Prosecutor's office in Baden-Württemberg. One of the cases under scrutiny is the shooting incident in Zuffenhausen, where a 34-year-old Turkish man was targeted. The Esslingen, Ludwigsburg, and Plochingen region is believed to be the home of the accused individuals, while the victim is associated with Zuffenhausen and Goppingen.
The Police in Stuttgart have been actively involved in this series of crimes, conducting numerous interviews and executing search warrants. As a result, 67 suspected group members have been arrested, with around 50 knives and 30 firearms seized.
The prosecutor's office has indicted three men in connection with the shooting incident in Zuffenhausen. Two German men, aged 20 and 21, and a 20-year-old Turkish man are accused of the attack. The Turkish man is believed to have disposed of the weapon afterwards.
Another case that may soon go to trial is the Molotov cocktail attack on an empty barbershop in Reichenbach an der Fils. A 21-year-old man from Kosovo and his two alleged accomplices have been accused of the incident. According to the prosecutor's office, they fled after setting the shop alight, putting the lives of residents in the upper floors at risk.
The justice system is actively dissecting each incident in this violent series, with several members of both groups already sentenced to lengthy prison terms. The Stuttgart Regional Court is responsible for hearing these cases and deciding whether to hear them together after an indictment has been filed.
Peace has been maintained in the area for several months now, following a significant decrease in the number of incidents. This could be due to ongoing investigations, arrests, trials, and initial verdicts, according to LKA-President Andreas Stenger. However, the police remain vigilant, conducting interviews and maintaining surveillance to ensure that the situation remains peaceful.
