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Three trucks full of weaponry removed from bomber's home

Kristen Allen
Kristen Allen - [email protected]
Three trucks full of weaponry removed from bomber's home
Some of the weapons confiscated by police after the standoff. Photo: DPA

Two weeks after Hessian police arrested a man who bombed a family's home in Viernheim near Mannheim, officers closed roads early on Wednesday to transport three trucks full of explosives and other weaponry confiscated from his apartment.

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“In total 16 vehicles were part of the operation, three trucks for the explosives and 13 other vehicles to secure the convoy,” Viernheim police spokesperson Ferdinand Derigs told The Local.

On August 19, a 44-year-old suspect identified only as Jürgen K. allegedly set off an explosion around 6:00 am at a single-family home in the town near Mannheim, slightly injuring two adults and two children as they escaped through a broken window. He may also have been involved in another explosion in Weinheim, some five kilometres away in Baden-Württemberg, which involved a hand grenade but caused no injuries.

The man fled and barricaded him in his nearby apartment wearing camouflage and a gas mask. From there he called police and threatened further explosions.

A tense overnight stand-off followed, with some 500 police and emergency workers evacuating the area and surrounding the building. On August 20, he surrendered and was arrested by special commando officers.

Nearby residents were not allowed to return to their homes on Theodor-Heuss-Allee until two days later on the evening of August 22 due to police efforts to remove his arsenal of explosives, chemicals and weapons, Derigs told The Local.

The weaponry was stored at a temporary facility before Wednesday morning's operation.

“We won’t say just how much or what was there, but it was three trucks’ worth,” Derigs said.

The explosives will be destroyed at an undisclosed location.

Meanwhile Jürgen K. remains imprisoned on remand under suspicion of attempted murder and violating weapons laws.

While his motive remains unclear, police said that he was being evicted by his landlord after failing to pay rent for several months.

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