Germany: Syrian Man Sets Fire to Two Buildings in Essen: Children Critically Injured

On Saturday evening in the city of Essen, a 41-year-old Syrian man, apparently enraged because his wife left him, set two buildings on fire, rammed his van into a shop, and held witnesses at bay with a machete until he was captured by police.

A total of 31 people were injured including 10 children, 2 of whom are in critical condition from smoke inhalation. Residents were literally passing their small children down from the rooftop to rescuers. This incident has made headlines all over Germany.

The below article from BILD is translated by Fousesquawk. A video is in the process of being subtitled in collaboration with Gates of Vienna and Vlad Tepes.

After machete attack by Syrian

Two children in life-threatening condition!

Caption: Dramatic scenes: Residents of one of the burning houses in Essen rescue their children, risking their own lives in the process.

Private photo

September 29, 2024 14:27

Essen (North Rhine Westphalia)

Tears and cries of despair Saturday evening in Altessen. Parents put themselves in danger to save their children from a fiery death. A Syrian (41) had shortly before set their houses on fire. 

Thick black smoke comes out from the window of an apartment on the top floor in north Essen. Residents escape to the roof. With one arm, a young woman tries to hold onto the gable, with the other she lowers a little girl down. Two men come to her on a long ladder, another stands on the window sill holding onto the child.

31 injured in Essen-Altessen

She is just one of the total of 31 victims attributed to the man who caused fear and terror in the Ruhr city. The 41-year-old Syrian injured 10 children, some seriously, two of whom are in life-threatening condition.

After the double arson, he grabbed a machete, sat in his delivery van, and began his rampage.

The man threatened passersby with a machete in Essen-Altessen and ran into a vegetable store.

Private photo

According to police, the nightmare began around 5:10 pm on the Altessenerstrasse (street) at the corner of Pielstickerstrasse. There, the perpetrator set fire to a building. After that, he drove to Zollvereinstrasse (Customs Union Street), where he set another house on fire.

His next objective: Katernbergerstrasse. With his van, he deliberately drove into the window of a vegetable shop, backed up, and rammed the shop again. Finally, the Syrian drove to another shop, got out with the machete in hand, and threatened people. Videos from witnesses show how the passersby try to keep the attacker at a distance and throw objects at him.

Caption: The perpetrator drove his van into a vegetable shop.

Photo: Justin Brosch

Attorney speaks of mental illness

According to WDR (West German Radio), a police patrol arrested the machete man, (who is) known to police, in the immediate vicinity of the scene shortly afterward. The resident of Essen, with Syrian roots, had burn injuries on his hands. The prosecutor’s office took over the investigation, (and) on Sunday, an arrest warrant was issued. The Syrian is in custody.

His defense attorney, Volker Schroeder tells BILD: “I have taken over the defense. I don’t see any terrorist background here, only mental illness. The whole thing looks like a family drama.”

Whether the 41-year-old is really sick, as the lawyer claims, will be determined after interviews and assessments by experts.

Caption: The police are able to arrest the Syrian, wearing a white shirt and baseball cap, in this rear courtyard.

Photo: Screenshot KDF-TV & Picture 2024

Critically injured children

Essen’s lord mayor, Thomas Kufen (51, CDU):  “The acts were obviously directed against a family.”  At the same time, (being) aware that that small children are harmed, particularly affects him. The lord mayor spoke Sunday about “dramatic hours” for his city.

On Sunday morning, the police still could not give an all-clear for the health condition of the critically injured children. A police spokeswoman told BILD: “This is apparently smoke (inhalation). To our knowledge, they have survived the night.”