More details are known about the deadly incident in Leipzig, Germany. A driver drove his car through a busy pedestrian zone on Monday afternoon. Two people were killed. The suspect, Jeffrey K. (33), was arrested at the scene. Striking: the man had been admitted to a psychiatric clinic just one day earlier. Today he has to appear in court for the first time.
Koen Roelants
Journalist at HLN
Source: Bild / Focus
LOOK. The suspect Jeffrey K. was arrested on the spot by the police
The chaos started at Augustusplatz around 4:45 p.m. The driver is said to have raced through the busy shopping street at a speed of up to about 80 kilometers per hour, a place normally frequented by pedestrians and shoppers.
Several people were hit. A 77-year-old man from Leipzig and a 63-year-old woman from Upper Franconia did not survive the collision. Several others were injured. According to eyewitnesses, a woman even clung to the roof of the car as it sped down the street.
The crazy ride only came to an end when the car crashed into a pole. Witnesses stated that the driver then sat apathetically and motionless behind the wheel.
The police were able to arrest Jeffrey K., a construction technician from Leipzig, without resistance. The man is married and father of a child. He was a youth coach at a boxing club in Leipzig for many years. As a teenager he apparently played football for a while and also boxed for the club.
After the incident, he appeared very confused and had psychological problems, according to initial witnesses. It now appears that the man had stayed in a psychiatric institution in Leipzig the day before. According to broadcaster MDR, he had himself admitted there. However, his stay ended abruptly: according to ‘Bild’ he was expelled from the institution on Sunday because he behaved aggressively towards other patients.
Normally a patient can only be discharged if there is no acute danger. Otherwise the police must be called. It is currently unclear whether the police were actually informed of his dismissal.
After his arrest, the man was taken to Leipzig University Hospital, where a doctor ruled him unfit for detention due to his mental state. He is currently staying in the psychiatric hospital of Altscherbitz in Saxony.
The Public Prosecution Service is investigating the case as two cases of murder and at least two attempted murders. According to the initial findings, a political motive has been ruled out. The magazine ‘Focus’ reported that sources within the security services indicated that the trigger for the attack may have been a domestic dispute. According to the report, the man is known to the police for domestic violence and verbal abuse.
The center of Leipzig around the scene of the tragedy was still largely closed on Tuesday. Detectives are still collecting evidence under a large investigation tent. The suspect will appear in court today. There, a decision will be made on further measures against him.
