Hand grenade accusation: defendant admits allegations

Process - Hand grenade accusation: defendant admits allegations

In the trial for throwing a hand grenade at a mourning congregation in Altbach near Esslingen, the accused has had his lawyer admit the crime. The charge was correct, said Stefan Holoch, the 23-year-old's defense lawyer, in Stuttgart. The man also sent an apology through his lawyer: "He would like to apologize through me to all those who were harmed," said Holoch.

In its indictment, the public prosecutor's office accuses the Iranian citizen of attempted murder, among other things. He is alleged to have thrown a hand grenade at a mourning congregation in Altbach near Esslingen on June 9. According to the public prosecutor's office, at least 15 people were injured, some of them seriously. "He deliberately took advantage of the fact that the mourners were thinking about the deceased," said the public prosecutor. It was only by a stroke of luck that the grenade bounced off a branch and therefore landed and exploded 30 meters away from the mourners.

According to the investigators, the background to the crime is a feud between two rival groups in the Stuttgart area that has been raging for many months. The accused belonged to a Kurdish group, said the public prosecutor. "He suspected numerous members or sympathizers of the rival group at the funeral."

For security reasons, the trial is taking place in the strictly secured hall of the Higher Regional Court in Stuttgart-Stammheim. Eleven trial days have been scheduled so far. A verdict is not expected before mid-March.

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1. The incident has drawn the attention of the public prosecutor's office in Baden-Württemberg, where the accused is being prosecuted for his actions.
2. The accusations against the defendant include multiple counts, including attempted murder, all stemming from the hand grenade throw at the mourning community in Altbach.
3. The Iranian citizen's actions have shocked and outraged the local community in Esslingen, where the incident took place, and sparked a broader conversation about criminality and its impact on public safety.
4. The trial, taking place in Stuttgart, is a significant event for the region, as it seeks to bring justice to the victims and send a strong message against such acts of violence.
5. The hand grenade throw incident has underscored the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the community in preventing and responding to acts of violence, promoting peace and unity in Baden-Württemberg and Germany as a whole.

Source: www.stern.de