Enlarge image
Police officers on duty at the school in Bremerhaven
Photo: FABIAN BIMMER / REUTERS
The shooter who injured a woman with a crossbow in a school in Bremerhaven is said to be a 21-year-old man.
When the suspect was arrested, the investigators found the crossbow and confiscated a blank gun and two knives, said chief prosecutor Oliver Constien.
The public prosecutor's office is investigating the suspect for attempted murder.
The man is due to be brought before a magistrate on Thursday evening.
The man has been silent about the fact so far.
Constien said investigators searched multiple properties around the suspect to gain insight into the motive.
The relationship between the young man and the school and the victim has yet to be determined.
The investigators assume a single perpetrator.
Mentally abnormal?
According to the public prosecutor's office, there are initial findings on mental abnormalities in the suspect.
A special psychological disposition may have contributed to the crime, it said.
According to the information, the employee of the school was in mortal danger after the crime.
Investigators did not release any further information about the woman.
At around 9:15 a.m., the perpetrator broke into the high school in the Lehe district with a crossbow and seriously injured the school staff.
The woman was taken to the hospital.
After the fact, the school's contingency plan was triggered.
The students and teachers locked themselves in the classrooms.
They stayed there until the police gave the all-clear.
200 people in the school
High school exams were due on Thursday, so the school was relatively empty, said Bremerhaven's school head Michael Frost (independent).
Around 200 students and teachers were on site, and they were able to leave the building around 1:30 p.m.
More than 500 students go to the upper level of the Lloyd-Gymnasium.
Police special forces searched the building to ensure there was no further danger.
The city council of Bremerhaven set up a hotline for parents of the students.
The school grounds were cordoned off over a large area after the crime.
In addition to forces from the police, fire brigade and rescue services, pastors and school psychologists were also on site to welcome the students and teachers.
Many parents were also waiting for their children in a small park in front of the school.
No classes on Friday
"This is the worst possible event that can happen," said school head Frost: "Something like this is possible anywhere, that's confirmed today." But the school was very well prepared for such a case.
"If there's any good news today, this is it," Frost said.
The students are free to come to school on Friday.
“There will be no lessons.
But we offer opportunities to talk, including for the parents,” said Frost.
Bremen's Education Senator Sascha Karolin Aulepp expressed her sympathy for those affected.
"First and foremost, I wish the victim of this terrible act a speedy recovery," said the SPD politician.
This also applies to all students, teachers and employees of the high school who have suffered damage from this traumatic situation.
ptz/dpa/AFP
