Updated on 2/3/2022 at 8:41 am
- The police and public prosecutor’s office are continuing to follow up on information about the alleged police murder in the Palatinate.
- The two suspects are in custody – also because of the risk of absconding.
- Investigators believe both men fired.
After the alleged murder of a 24-year-old police officer and her 29-year-old colleague in Kusel in Rhineland-Palatinate Further details about the two suspects will become known on Monday morning. Even if the investigators have stopped the search for other perpetrators for the time being, the investigations continue. The police have received around 150 tips on the crime so far.
Among other things, the authorities want to clarify whether the men had gun ownership cards, as the public prosecutor in Kaiserslautern announced. When the men were arrested on Monday in Saarland a large arsenal of weapons had been secured.
Police find multiple guns on suspects
During a house search in Spiesen-Elversberg, Saarland, the police found five handguns, a repeating rifle, ten other long guns, a crossbow, a silencer and ammunition. According to the information, the investigators assume that the arrested 38-year-old suspect had access to the weapons. Two long guns were found in the home of the second suspect.
The German Hunting Association said the 38-year-old was not in possession of a valid hunting license. According to the current state of knowledge, the competent authority in Saarland has rejected his application for a new hunting license due to lack of reliability. The association was appalled by the “cold-blooded police murder” and called on the authorities to quickly clarify where the murder weapons came from and how they came into the suspect’s possession.
Bloody deed in Kusel: One of the alleged perpetrators has already commented on the allegations
Since Tuesday, the 32 and 38-year-old Saarlanders have been in custody on suspicion of joint murder and poaching. They are said to have shot a 24-year-old police officer and a 29-year-old chief inspector early Monday morning during a traffic check in the Kusel district – it is located in the south-west of Rhineland-Palatinate and borders on Saarland. Investigators suspect that the men wanted to cover up poaching. There were numerous dead wild animals in the trunk of her van.
The older man has not yet commented on the matter, the younger man admitted to poaching and described the police check and shots, it said. According to prosecutors, he denied shooting himself.
Police murder in Kusel: suspects have no criminal record
Investigators assume that at least two weapons were used and that they were used by both suspects. There are no indications of a politically motivated act or any connections to the so-called Reich Citizens’ Scene.
The suspects have no prior convictions. The 38-year-old had already been noticed by the police because of hunting poaching and traffic accident escape, the 32-year-old because of fraud, it said.
According to prosecutors, the men now face life imprisonment. At a press conference on Tuesday, the investigators also commented on the personal situation of the accused. A reason for imprisonment is therefore a possible risk of absconding, the economic situation of the men is “anything but orderly”, the social situation is “rather fragile”. (mko/dpa)
One day after the sensational death of two police officers in Kusel, the public prosecutor spoke at a press conference about the alleged perpetrators.
teaser image: © picture alliance/dpa/Harald Tittel