Advertisement

Düsseldorf police set up special 'Alps' unit

Author thumbnail
Düsseldorf police set up special 'Alps' unit
The site of the Germanwings crash in the French Alps. Photo: DPA

A new police unit, which will go under the name “Alps”, includes 100 officers whose task it is to identify victims of the Germanwings crash and to investigate the background of co-pilot Andreas Lubitz.

Advertisement

Investigators will be accompanied by psychologists as they visit the victims' next of kin and their homes in order to gather evidence, reports the Rheinische Post.

They will enquire into identifiable markings such as tattoos or fillings and will also search in hairbrushes or other relevant places for genetic evidence.

Evidence will be used to identify the body parts currently being recovered from the crash site in the French Alps.

“We are looking for skin and hair particles," said an investigator. "The Federal Criminal Police Office can use these to find genetic codes which can then be sent to their French colleagues for comparison.”

Police spokesperson Andreas Czogalla said that “it is certainly one of the biggest investigative operations we've performed in decades. It is placing extreme demands on my colleagues.”  

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also