Kidnapping by blackmail: Karlsruhe pharmacy hostage takers brought to trial

EEleven months after the hostage crisis in a Karlsruhe pharmacy, the alleged perpetrator had to answer to the local district court from Monday. In addition to hostage-taking, the 21-year-old is accused of kidnapping for the purpose of extortion. On March 10, 2023, he reportedly entered a pharmacy near the center of Baden-Württemberg wearing a mask and holding a loaded blank pistol in his hand.

It is said that at times he had eleven men under his control. According to the prosecution, he fired two shots immediately after entering the pharmacy. He then reportedly ordered three people to leave the trading floor and go into an adjacent area and held them there. One of them managed to escape a little later. However, there were eight other people in the back of the pharmacy.

Responsibility lies with the juvenile court

The accused reportedly demanded seven million euros and threatened to kill the hostages if he did not receive the money. After several shots were fired from the pharmacy, riot police finally broke into the building and, after about five hours, freed the hostages, who remained physically unharmed.

The then 20-year-old hostage-taking suspect was arrested. His trial began on Monday in Karlsruhe. According to a court spokesman, the public was temporarily excluded from questioning the accused about his personal circumstances. The process is set to continue publicly on the next date.

The accused must answer before the youth department of the regional court because he was only 20 years old at the time of the alleged crime and is therefore considered a minor in criminal law. The Karlsruhe court has scheduled six meetings until the end of February. The verdict could be announced on February 29.