Germany: Man armed with machete enters university library and threatens staff

An individual armed with a machete was shot dead by police on Tuesday April 23 at the university library in Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg) after being aggressive towards staff, reports the Mannheimer Morgen, a local German daily. An investigation has been opened.

According to a police press release, the acts were committed by a 31-year-old German man, born in Saarbrücken, who entered the university library in Mannheim, a city of 300,000 inhabitants, including 30,000 students. He had already been banned from the building due to his turbulent behavior in the past and was already known to the police.

The events occurred around 5 p.m. As witnesses to the scene reported to the Mannheimer Morgen, the man entered the library and asked to put up stickers, which the staff would have forbidden him. The 30-year-old then got angry with an employee. The staff, seeing this man’s aggressive attitude, immediately called the police.

According to a press release from the Mannheim police station, the man had a machete in his hand when the crew arrived and began to be threatening towards the police. Police then shot the individual, who was seriously injured. He was taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries.

An investigation was opened to reconstruct the facts and question witnesses. In addition, a complete analysis of the traces, including a ballistic examination, will be carried out. The body of the 30-year-old should also be autopsied.