Unterkirnach
Forced eviction in Baden-Württemberg escalates – there may be weapons in the house
Police officers walk through a residential area in Unterkirnach with full equipment. Because a forced eviction threatened to escalate, the police are currently deployed with a large contingent.
© Silas Stein / DPA
The bailiff wants to evict, a man refuses to leave his house. He threatens to set the building on fire. Are there weapons in the house? The police negotiated for hours.
Helicopter, armored vehicle, special police forces – a man killed himself on Tuesday Forced eviction was resisted and a major police operation was triggered in Unterkirnach (Schwarzwald-Baar district). A local police spokesman said it cannot be ruled out that there were weapons and a small amount of explosives in the 62-year-old’s house. The man, who lived alone in the house that was being evicted, threatened to set fire to the building and burn it down.
According to the information, the operation has been running since morning. Rottweil police officers are currently negotiating with the man holed up in the house to get him to give up. It was initially unclear how long the operation would last. The police spokesman explained that the situation was static. “It could last another five hours or it could be over in the next five minutes.”
Police present as a prophylactic in the event of forced evictions
According to the police spokesman, little is known about the man’s background or motives. He used to be a soldier. He also has several long guns and handguns registered to him. He also had an explosives license and was a member of a shooting club, the police said. There is no information available as to whether the 62-year-old is a “Reich citizen”. So-called Reich citizens are people who do not recognize the Federal Republic and its democratic structures.
When it comes to forced evictions, the police are often involved right from the start because of the possible risks. In the present case, after discovering that the 62-year-old might be in possession of weapons following his threats, a large-scale operation was decided.
The residents of several single-family homes and semi-detached houses directly adjacent to the affected house have now been brought to safety and accommodated by the city. It was not announced how many people had to leave their homes. The 62-year-old’s house was largely cordoned off.
Unterkirnach is located in the southern Black Forest, around eight kilometers from the nearest larger town, Villingen-Schwenningen. According to the community, around 2,600 people live there.