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Herbert Reul criticizes criminals and bystanders during the flood disaster

2021-07-28T11:55:58.350Z


Theft, damage to property, bodily harm: NRW Interior Minister Reul has described how some people have taken advantage of the plight of the flood victims and threatened helpers. 23 people were arrested.


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Herbert Reul (CDU): "A huge thank you to the helpers"

Photo: Oliver Berg / dpa

Criminals apparently took advantage of the clean-up work during the flood disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia.

So far, 65 cases of theft and 31 cases of particularly serious theft as well as twelve cases of fraud have become known, said State Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) in Düsseldorf in the interior committee of the state parliament.

In addition, bodily harm, damage to property and embezzlement were recorded in 15 cases.

"That is why the police are and will of course remain on site," Reul continued.

According to the minister, there have been 23 arrests so far, and pre-trial detention has been ordered in four cases.

Mud pelted at helpers

In many cases, emergency services were hindered by onlookers.

"That is really unbearable," said Reul loudly "Express".

One will “under no circumstances tolerate” the misery of other people being taken advantage of.

Mud was even thrown at helpers.

More than 4,300 dismissals have been issued here.

However, Reul also expressed himself positively: “The vast majority of those who are now coming to the regions do not want to steal anything and enrich themselves, but rather to lend a hand.

And therefore: A huge thank you to the helpers. "

According to the politician, no more people are missing in the flood areas of the state.

There are 47 fatalities to mourn.

According to previous knowledge, 23 people were probably hit by the water masses on the street and torn to their death.

23 people were found lifeless from their living rooms or basements.

In one case, the cause of death has not yet been clarified.

Four dead are firefighters.

Property damage goes "in the billions"

Reconstruction in the affected areas will take a long time, according to Reul.

After rescuing and recovering, it is now a matter of tidying up, repairing and rebuilding, which in some places can take "weeks, months and sometimes years".

The property damage - private as well as public - goes "in the billions".

The supply of drinking water, electricity, gas and the telecommunications networks were also badly affected and still did not work in parts of the crisis regions.

Reul said it was the biggest natural disaster that NRW has ever suffered.

Experts assumed "at least" a storm of the century.

Up to 23,000 workers from the fire brigade, aid organizations, technical aid organization and crisis teams were deployed.

At the beginning of the meeting, the MPs and the minister observed a minute's silence: for those affected by the floods, but also for the explosion in the Chempark in Leverkusen with at least two fatalities on Tuesday, as well as for all helpers.

bbr / dpa

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2021-07-28

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