Custody dispute behind attack in Germany that left 6 dead: 45-year-old man of Turkish descent

Details have emerged regarding the armed attack near a youth center in the city of Stade, in the German state of Lower Saxony, which left 6 people dead. Lower Saxony Interior Minister Daniela Behrens and officials from the Lüneburg Police Department held a joint press conference regarding the attack. Lüneburg Police Chief Kathrin Schuol announced that the suspect is a 45-year-old man of Turkish descent, born in Germany and residing in the city of Hanover. Schuol noted that a firearm was also seized in the vehicle the suspect used while fleeing. Stating that the suspect had a prior police record for various offenses, including threats, Schuol provided information that 3 people are currently in custody.

The motive for the attack was the custody case of his 3-month-old daughter

Police Chief Schuol stated that the motive for the attack was the perpetrator's failure to obtain custody of his 3-month-old daughter. The 45-year-old perpetrator, whose 3-month-old daughter and wife were at the youth center, had held several meetings with authorities to gain custody of his daughter. However, these meetings did not result in the father's favor.

On the day of the attack, an argument broke out between the perpetrator, who had met with youth center officials and received a negative response, and the staff. Unable to obtain custody of his daughter, the perpetrator opened fire with a gun in the room where the youth center staff were located. In the attack, 5 people lost their lives at the scene, and 1 person died in the hospital.

All victims were youth center staff

While 2 men and 4 women, all youth center staff, lost their lives in the incident, it was learned that the perpetrator did not take any action against his daughter or her 34-year-old mother. During the press conference, no information was shared regarding whether there were any issues in the perpetrator's relationship with the mother of his 3-month-old daughter.