Bloody dispute in Hesse: Police arrest suspect after firearm

Bloody dispute in Hesse: Police arrest suspect after firearm

On Easter Sunday, a shocking act of bloodshed occurred in the German state of Hesse, in which a father-in-law (59) and a son-in-law (28) were shot. The police and prosecutors suspect a personal motive behind the crime and stated that there was no danger to bystanders at the time of the investigation. The suspected perpetrators, both of whom are also Turkish citizens, were arrested on the same day after neighbors reported several gunshots on the police emergency call. Despite rescue measures being taken immediately, the two men succumbed to their injuries at the scene. A wanted shooter remains unknown to the police. Evidence, including cell phones, was seized, while details of the investigation were not revealed for tactical reasons.

The neighbors of the crime scenes in particular expressed shock and uncertainty about the terrible act, while the police emphasized that there was no immediate danger to the residents. The event took place in Bad Nauheim, a town with over 30,000 inhabitants in the Wetterau, located between Frankfurt am Main and Gießen.

Gun crime in Germany

The incident highlights the increasing problem of gun crime in Germany. According to the [Federal Situation Report on Weapons Crime 2022](https://www.vdb- Waffen.de/de/service/nachrichten/aktuelle/27062023_bundeslagebild_ponscriminitaet_2022_veroeffentlicht.html), published by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), there were a total of 33,685 violations of the Weapons Act last year, which corresponds to an increase of 6.4% compared to the previous year. Particularly alarming is the increase in threats with firearms and shots fired by 5.4% and 9.0% respectively.

What is particularly striking is that 95% of the weapons used in crimes were illegal, and only 0.03% of the crimes recorded were committed with legal firearms. This indicates a large proportion of illegal weapons in traffic, which highlights the severity of the situation.

International perspectives

An overarching problem regarding gun violence is the availability of weapons, which also leads to worrying figures in other countries such as Turkey. In Türkiye, private weapons are widely available on the Internet, which is reflected in dramatic incidents. 17-year-old Helin Palantöken lost her life when she was shot by an acquaintance with a semi-automatic rifle on her way home from school. The perpetrator had obtained the weapon illegally and has so far been able to get away with impunity, while the government appears largely powerless despite a ban on the illegal arms trade.

The current situation in Germany and Turkey illustrates the increasing problem of gun violence worldwide and the need for political action to prevent future tragedies. As German police continue to search for the unknown shooter in Hesse, it remains to be seen how the investigation progresses and what lessons are learned from these tragic events. The discussion about tightening gun laws is becoming increasingly louder in both countries, especially in view of the threat posed by illegal weapons.