Knife attack in Gelsenkirchen: 44-year-old dies after attack!

Knife attack in Gelsenkirchen: 44-year-old dies after attack!

on Wednesday evening, around 9:50 p.m., there was a tragic incident in Gelsenkirchen-Schalke. A 44-year-old man was attacked on the open street with a knife. Eyewitnesses alerted the emergency call when the man collapsed on Paulinenstrasse. Despite the rapid commitment of the police and emergency services, he succumbed to his serious injuries in the hospital on Thursday night. So far, the background of the crime remains unclear. The police have set up a homicide commission to clarify the circumstances of the incident.

According to the Gelsenkirchen police, two men fled from the crime scene. A witness described the first suspect as 18 to 19 years old, about 1.70 meters tall with normal stature, black curly hair that was wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. The second suspect was about 1.65 meters tall and younger than the first, with dark, short hair. The police ask for information from witnesses who can contribute to the investigation of the case. Interested parties can reach the police on phone numbers 0209 365 7112 or 0209 365 8240.

death after knife stings

The emergency call and the subsequent medical emergency care were not sufficient to save the life of the man. He had been injured by several knife stings and died despite the efforts of the rescue workers. The autopsy of the victim was planned for Thursday to obtain more information about the injuries and the circumstances of his death. The responsible public prosecutor is in this case in Essen.

knife attacks and social debate

The knife attack in Gelsenkirchen falls into a context that is characterized by rising knife attacks in Germany. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the number of such attacks, especially in connection with dangerous and serious bodily harm, has increased since 2020. For 2023, 8,951 knife attacks were recorded, which is a significant increase compared to 2022 (8.160). The knife attacks have also increased in predatory crimes, with 4,893 incidents in 2023, compared to 4,195 in the previous year.

The discussion about knife power is also revived by the origin of the perpetrators. A distinction was made between 2,226 Germans and 1,765 non-German suspects in North Rhine-Westphalia. Male suspects dominate who are mostly over 21 years old. Such statistics raise questions about social and structural problems that have to be examined further. In view of the 13.9 million foreigners who lived in Germany at the end of 2023, the topic is of the highest social relevance.

The incident in Gelsenkirchen not only raises questions about the exact circumstances, but also fits into the broader discussion about increasing violence with knives in Germany. The population is invited to be vigilant and to contribute to information about the clarification of such offenses.