After passers-by found a 50-year-old lifeless in a flower shop, xenophobic rumors shot up in Upper Franconia. Investigators are now emphasizing that the 17-year-old suspect is “not an immigrant”.
After the killing of a 50-year-old florist in the Upper Franconian district town of Lichtenfels, the police arrested an urgent suspect, according to the police headquarters in Upper Franconia and the Coburg public prosecutor’s office. The woman was found lifeless in a downtown flower shop by passers-by on the evening of March 10, 2023. The suspect is a 17-year-old. At the request of the public prosecutor’s office, a pre-trial arrest warrant was issued against the man on Saturday.
In the case, 40 officials of the special commission “Flower” determined. The investigators emphasize that they are still evaluating secured traces. The riot police, police dog handlers and a helicopter had also searched for traces and evidence in the Lichtenfels city area. The sympathy was great in the population, rumors shot up. Including numerous suspicions on social media with a clearly xenophobic background – apparently due to the search for a potential witness. The investigators have meanwhile been forced to demand that no rumors be spread, especially on social media.
Apparently because of this history, the investigators are now emphasizing that the 17-year-old is a man from Lichtenfels with German citizenship – and contrary to rumors to the contrary “not an immigrant”. He was temporarily arrested on Friday afternoon in the Lichtenfels city area. After the suspicion against the 17-year-old had been confirmed, he was brought before an investigating judge on Saturday. He issued an arrest warrant. Since then, the youth has been in a prison.
For the time being, the investigators do not want to give any details about the status of the investigation or the suspect. They refer to “the youthful age of the accused”. They also do not want to jeopardize further investigations.