Police raise weapons cache: Suspect (69) blows himself up shortly afterwards – new details known
Created: 08/14/2022, 06:02
By: Kai Hartwig
The police confiscated numerous weapons and ammunition during the house search.
© Police Hagen/dpa
A man apparently bunkers weapons in a North Rhine-Westphalian town.
The police confiscate them.
A day later, the suspect is found dead.
Update from August 12, 1:35 p.m
.: On Thursday (August 11), a right-wing extremist from Attendorn in Sauerland committed suicide, according to investigators.
According to a report from Thursday's
picture
, the 69-year-old is said to have killed himself in an explosives bunker in the forest.
It is unclear whether he killed himself with a gun or an explosive device.
A day before the alleged suicide, the man was raided.
Many partially functional weapons and intact ammunition were found, as the public prosecutor's office in Siegen and the police in Hagen announced.
Officials also found objects and documents that suggested "clearly right-wing" sentiment.
An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday night.
Now the
picture
publishes new details about the man.
Accordingly, the 69-year-old, a former professional soldier, was a "gun nut".
The suspect had already been convicted of arms smuggling and violation of the gun law in the past, according to the
picture
.
"As a boy, he roamed the woods with a metal detector and dragged home duds and World War II ammunition," a neighbor told
Bild
.
Police find arms depot: man commits suicide
First report from August 11:
Attendorn/Munich – On Wednesday (August 10), the Hagen police in Attendorn (North Rhine-Westphalia) dug up a weapons store.
In the course of the operation, a 69-year-old was provisionally arrested.
According to the police and the investigating public prosecutor's office in Siegen, the man was suspected of possessing weapons of war as well as the corresponding parts and ammunition.
The suspect's home was also searched.
"During the search, the officers found objects and documents that indicated that the 69-year-old Attendorner had clearly right-wing attitudes," the police said in a statement.
Various weapons and ammunition were also confiscated from his property.
These could fall under the War Weapons Control Act.
The police in North Rhine-Westphalia have dug up a weapons cache.
A suspect apparently committed suicide.
(Iconic image) © David Inderlied/dpa
Police find arms depot in Attendorn – suspect (69) blows himself up the day after the raid
On Wednesday evening, according to the police, the magistrate of the Olpe District Court suspended the arrest warrant against the man subject to reporting requirements.
A day later, the case came to a head dramatically.
According to a report by
Bild
, the 69-year-old blew himself up in a forest in Sauerland.
Accordingly, the man had an explosives bunker there.
Emergency services would still search the area around the bunker for booby traps on Thursday afternoon (August 11).
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The police are assuming a suicide: "According to previous investigations, it can be assumed that a suicide occurred not far from the man's home address."
The investigating senior prosecutor also stated that the 69-year-old already had a criminal record.
"The man is known for several similar offenses and has already served prison sentences," he said on Wednesday (August 10) during a press conference.
Do you have suicidal thoughts or have you noticed them in a relative/acquaintance? Help is available from the telephone counseling service: anonymous advice is available around the clock on the free numbers 0800 / 111 0 111 and 0800 / 111 0 222. Internet counseling is also possible at http://www.telefonseelsorge.de
(kh mit afp)
