As of: March 1, 2024, 4:35 p.m
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A broken window on the entrance door to a single-family home in the municipality of Scheeßel.
© Sina Schuldt/dpa
A Bundeswehr soldier is said to have killed four people - including a small child.
The defense minister speaks of a “horrible” act.
Scheeßel/Bothel - After the killing of three adults and a three-year-old child in the Rotenburg (Wümme) district of Lower Saxony, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) expressed his dismay.
“The multiple killings of innocent people in Scheeßel is simply horrific,” said the SPD politician on Friday, as a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Defense announced.
“I found out about it early this morning.
A Bundeswehr soldier is the suspected perpetrator.” The news magazine “Spiegel” initially reported on the Defense Minister’s statements.
There is much to suggest an act in the context of a private relationship, said Pistorius.
This needs to be clarified.
If it is confirmed that the background to the crime was a breakup, it would be another terrible murder of women because they ended a relationship, said the Defense Minister.
“But that’s all speculation, I don’t want to and can’t take part in that right now,” said the minister.
“My condolences go out to the relatives of the victims, a crime like this is simply terrible.”
According to the investigators' initial findings, a 32-year-old Bundeswehr soldier is said to have killed a 30-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman in the municipality of Scheeßel on Friday night.
In the municipality of Bothel, the German is said to have killed a three-year-old child and the 33-year-old mother.
The background to the crimes was initially unclear.
An arrest warrant was issued against the suspect for four counts of murder.
The man was taken to prison.
dpa