Actually, three guards are supposed to guard the Halle suspect's release. But there is none at all - and the 28-year-old tries to escape. The Justice Minister is trying to explain how that could happen - and who is responsible.
Magdeburg (dpa) - Even before the terrorist suspect tried to escape from Halle, the prison management had violated security requirements for months, according to the Ministry of Justice.
Saxony-Anhalt's Minister of Justice, Anne-Marie Keding (CDU), made serious accusations against the "Roter Ochse" correctional facility in Magdeburg on Tuesday. The institution's management has loosened the security requirements more than ordered and, among other things, used fewer personnel to guard the 28-year-old. According to Keding, however, the ministry had never checked whether the JVA in Halle implemented the strict requirements for guarding the prisoner. In the meantime, the terrorist suspect has been transferred to the prison in Burg. The requirements have been tightened.
On the day of the attempt to escape, several violations were committed, it said. The terrorist suspect was initially accompanied by only one guardian and later by no other guard. Since the 28-year-old had always behaved inconspicuously, he was assessed in the prison as "not so dangerous". In addition, the violation of the security requirements came.
Two disciplinary proceedings against the institution's management are in preparation, said Keding. Further proceedings are in the room. At the moment, the event is being worked up further.
It had become known last week that the terrorist suspect was already using an unobserved moment in his courtyard on Pentecost Saturday (May 30), climbed over a three to four meter high fence and tried for several minutes to lift a manhole cover and open doors. A few minutes after his absence was noticed, the 28-year-old was caught again.
The federal prosecutor accuses the 28-year-old of double murder and 68 attempts of murder "out of an anti-Semitic, racist and xenophobic sentiment". He is said to have tried heavily armed on October 9 last year to enter the well-attended synagogue in Halle. When this failed, he is said to have shot two people nearby and injured several people on the run before he was arrested. The trial against Saxony-Anhalt is expected to start in late July.
The escape attempt has caused dismay, but also many questions. On Tuesday Keding reported the current status to the state cabinet, on Thursday the legal committee in the state parliament deals with the case in a non-public session.
The first consequences were announced by Keding on Tuesday: the prison in Burg has to report to the ministry every day about the terror suspect. The prisoner also has to be handcuffed again when he leaves his cell. In addition, the ministry will in future have written evidence of the security measures that have been ordered on site.