05/12/2023 09:03 (act. 05/12/2023 09:10)
Several seriously injured after an explosion at a German skyscraper ©APA/dpa
The explosion at a skyscraper in Ratingen, near Düsseldorf, with several firefighters and police forces seriously injured, left many questions unanswered. On Friday, investigators continued to seek answers about how the detonation at the apartment could have happened – and whether emergency services could have been ambushed by the 57-year-old resident.
The Düsseldorf public prosecutor is investigating whether it is attempted murder or attempted murder. Furthermore, the identity of the body of a woman that was found after the arrest of the German in the apartment where he lived with his mother must be clarified. According to information from the dpa, the woman had died a long time ago.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul has been cautious about the alleged perpetrator’s motive. The CDU politician said on Friday morning of a possible corona denial record: “I’m not sure.” The man had also been criminally conspicuous, but only with minor offenses.
Reul said on Thursday that the 57-year-old German “mentally remained in the crown-denying environment”. This would have resulted from an initial search on social media. According to media reports, it could also be a confusion of names. A Düsseldorf police spokesman also confirmed this possibility.
The Düsseldorf police gave a drastic description of what happened on Thursday night. So emergency services were called to the high-rise residential area of Ratinger because there was concern about a resident whose mailbox was overflowing. As police and firefighters were standing outside the door of her 10th-floor apartment, her 57-year-old son suddenly opened it, police spokesman Raimund Dockter said. “There was an explosion immediately, immediately, then a ball of fire came towards the fire department and police colleagues.”
As a result, a 25-year-old police officer and a 29-year-old police officer were seriously injured. “Another 22 people suffered minor injuries,” police said late in the evening. In addition, seven firefighters were seriously injured, three of them seriously.
How the explosion was actually triggered is yet to be determined, Dockter said. After that, the suspect also started a fire, which made it difficult to enter the apartment and carry out investigative work. It is possible that the man wanted to lure the emergency services into a trap, but this cannot be confirmed at this time.
Dozens of ambulances, emergency doctors, fire engines and police vehicles were involved in the large-scale operation. Special forces secured the entire high-rise building and snipers positioned themselves on the balconies of apartments across the street. Special forces finally broke into the apartment and arrested the 57-year-old man. Police and the Ministry of Interior initially did not give any information on whether the man was still resisting. Wrapped in a rescue blanket and wearing a breathing mask, according to police, he was finally removed from the house and taken to an ambulance with “serious injuries”. It remains unclear whether he was injured in the blast or during the arrest.
The mayor of Ratingen, Klaus Pesch, expressed his horror. “Those who were in front of the fire – 10 to 12 people with the most severe burns – and who we hope will survive this will certainly carry this with them for the rest of their lives.” Some victims had severe burns of up to 80% of the skin. “There really is hope and fear.”
In Ratingen, in the Mettmann district, many emergency services know each other. “The effect is agreement,” Pesch said. “It’s like a huge volcanic eruption falling on an entire family.” Emergency psychologists and chaplains are available for emergency services.