Explosion in Ratingen
“Fireball came towards the police” – detonation probably triggered intentionally
Large-scale operation in the Ratinger high-rise, where an explosion had been triggered.
© Rolf Vennenbernd / DPA
It began as a routine operation – but it ended tragically for nine firefighters and police officers. Several emergency services are injured in an explosion in Ratingen. The detonation was probably not an accident.
The horror can be seen in the police officers and firefighters: Twelve of their colleagues were injured when there was suddenly a huge explosion during what was supposed to be a routine operation – probably triggered by the 57-year-old, whom the emergency services actually wanted to help.
The 57-year-old is now being investigated
The Düsseldorf police assume that the man deliberately triggered the explosion and seriously injured several people. “It’s obvious,” said Düsseldorf police spokesman Raimund Dockter. The public prosecutor’s office in Düsseldorf is therefore investigating an attempted homicide. “Further investigations must show whether it is attempted manslaughter or attempted murder and in how many cases,” said a spokeswoman for the DPA news agency.
Dockter gave a graphic account of Thursday morning’s incident. Accordingly, the emergency services were called because there were concerns about a resident of the Ratinger high-rise because her mailbox was overflowing. When the police and fire brigade were standing in front of her apartment door, her 57-year-old son suddenly ripped it open, the police spokesman reported.
Nine police officers and firefighters seriously injured
“There was an explosion immediately, immediately, so a fireball came towards the colleagues from the fire brigade and police.” As a result, a 25-year-old policewoman and a 29-year-old policeman were life-threatening and seven firefighters were seriously injured. How the explosion was triggered has yet to be determined. It is possible that the man wanted to lure the emergency services into an ambush, but cannot be confirmed at this time, Dockter said.
A person stands on the balcony of a high-rise building with smoke billowing out
©David Young/DPA
Much of the background to the incident is still unclear. The man was “mentally in the corona denier environment,” says North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU). Research on social media revealed that. “It’s crazy and incomprehensible,” says Reul. “That people who ensure our safety – firefighters, police officers – go into action and end up risking their lives in the truest sense of the word.” According to him, the injured are ten firefighters and two police officers. “So many injured colleagues, it doesn’t leave you cold,” says a local police officer in a hushed voice.
When did the dead person die?
The public prosecutor’s office in Düsseldorf is also examining how a person found dead in the suspect’s apartment died, said the spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office. According to DPA information, she died a long time ago. The body was discovered after the 57-year-old was arrested, as Herbert Reul reported. The minister was initially unable to say anything about the identity. The man had previously been in the apartment with his mother.