Krefeld in fear: Police contacted arsonists shortly before the crime!

Krefeld in fear: Police contacted arsonists shortly before the crime!

In Krefeld, a suspected arsonist caused a stir on October 10th when the police had to stop him with shots in a multiplex cinema. The police had contacted the 38-year-old man hours before this dangerous situation arose. This communication was part of a preventive program that was developed specifically for violent offenders with psychological problems.

During a conversation, the man was offered an appointment for a preventive consultation in order to identify and prevent possible acts of violence at an early stage. This happened as part of the “Periscope” program, which aims to prevent crimes committed by people with psychological problems. According to the answers to the SPD parliamentary group from Interior Minister Herbert Reul and Family Minister Josefine Paul, the suspect had already been included in a risk program since September 17, 2024 and had received a classification of test case level 1, which was later increased to level 2.

Details about the incident

Although the man was registered in the system, he was not considered a threat. His dangerous plan took place just a few hours after making contact. He is said to have spilled petrol in the cinema and tried to set it on fire before police intervened. He was seriously injured during the intervention and had to be taken to hospital. An arrest warrant was issued against him on strong suspicion of attempted aggravated arson. This shows the complexity of the situation, because despite all measures, the police were unable to prevent the incident in advance.

An interesting aspect of the story is the origin of the suspect. The Iranian entered Germany illegally for the first time in 2002 and had since lived in several European countries, including Belgium and France. After being convicted, he served a prison sentence from 2010 to 2014 and then disappeared from Krefeld for ten years before returning in April 2024. An application for readmission by France was rejected because the man had not signed the necessary documents for voluntary return.

The information about the incident and police activity raises many questions. The developments surrounding the case illustrate how challenging prevention work is and the difficulties that can arise in identifying potential violent perpetrators. This particular situation will certainly be further scrutinized, especially with regard to the effectiveness of police strategies to avert threats in the region.

The events in Krefeld are a clear example of how important preventative action is in the fight against crime. It remains to be seen what measures the authorities will derive from this incident and how they can better assess future risks. The complexity of the case and the various factors that led to the escalation are important for both the police and society.

Recent developments and responses show that the issue of mental health and its connection to violent crime is becoming increasingly important, and the need for effective safeguards is undeniable. Further details about this case can be found in the report on www.n-tv.de be read.