Family gun massacre ‘leaves four dead as soldier shoots ex-girlfriend, her child, her new
- Ammunition and explosives were found in the soldier’s car and police are searching an army barracks for clues as to what happened
- There was also a shooting in the nearby town of Bothel, about eight miles away
A soldier is accused of murdering four people including a child at a home in Germany last night.
The victims are said to be his ex-girlfriend, her child, her new boyfriend and her boyfriend’s mother.
The incident happened at 3:30 in the morning.
Several police forces were called to the property in Scheeßel in the district of Rotenburg after reports of a shooting and a helicopter was put to use searching for the shooter from above.
The armored officers cordoned off the building and stormed it with machine guns.
The armored officers cordoned off the building and stormed it with machine guns
Several police forces were called to the property in Scheeßel in the district of Rotenburg
German newspaper Bild reports that police say inside the house there were ‘several victims’.
The soldier’s age and motive are not yet known, however the police have said they do not rule out that it is ‘a motive in the family environment’.
Police spokesman Heiner van der Werp told Bild that the incident was a ‘family story’.
He also said: ‘Everything that was available was in use.’ These include forces from the Lower Saxony State Police and Federal Police.
The police presence continued throughout the night and into the morning with officers at Rotenburg train station and houses being surrounded.
Then, at dawn, police say the suspect handed himself in.
The soldier’s car was found parked outside the barracks and has been cordoned off by police
A Molotov cocktail was found in the side compartment of the car after police searched it
Magazines for guns were discovered in the boot of the car. It is still unknown if they are military
The location of the car prompted the police to begin a search of the von Düring barracks
The are was cordoned off whilst the search commenced with a helicopter also being used
The perpetrator is said to have been a Bundeswehr (German army) soldier and has since been arrested.
Ammunition and explosives were found in the soldiers car, leading the police to begin a search of the von Düring barracks in Rotenburg.
The car was parked outside the barracks.
Police found a Molotov cocktail in the side compartment of the driver’s door as well as several magazines for firearms and other ammunition – all of which was seized.
It is still unknown if the suspect’s weapon came from the possession of the Bundeswehr.
Shots were also fired in the Lower Saxony community of Bothel today, allegedly by an Bundeswehr soldier – police are yet to confirm it as the same soldier and are trying to establish a connection.
Forensics officers work behind a police cordon at the Von D’ring barracks in Rotenburg
The two crime scenes are about eight miles apart with heavy police presences in both
The two places are about eight miles apart.
There was a heavy police presence at both scenes, the family home in Scheeßel and the other scene in Bothel.1314
‘A motive in the family environment cannot be ruled out,’ said the police press release.
One of the major military units at the von Düring barracks who the shooter may have served for is the Jagertruppe.
The Jagertruppe is a group within the army specifically trained in urban combat – such as towns – places where tanks can’t access.
They are trained with light weapons to fight enemy infantry.