A 52-year-old man was detained by police in Strückhausen, Lower Saxony, after threatening two people, including a sales representative, with an object resembling a pistol on Thursday morning. The services that arrived at Zum Fähranleger street secured a gas-powered airsoft replica. The victims suffered no physical injuries but experienced significant stress. Police are conducting an investigation to determine the motives and circumstances of the incident.
Perpetrator detained after intervention
Officers from the Rodenkirchen station detained a 52-year-old resident of Strückhausen, who did not resist. During the operation, a replica pistol used for deterrence was secured.
Threat towards salesman and witness
The perpetrator first threatened one person and then a sales representative who was in the area. He aimed an object imitating a firearm at them, prompting a witness to call the police.
Airsoft-type replica weapon used
The secured item is a gas-powered weapon that shoots plastic pellets, colloquially known as airsoft. Its use for intimidation constitutes a crime, even if it is not a lethal weapon.
No injuries to victims
Neither the salesman nor the second person sustained physical injuries. However, they experienced severe psychological shock as a result of the threat of weapon use.
Ongoing police investigation
The criminal investigation department is conducting proceedings. Interrogations and evidence collection are ongoing. Authorities are checking the legality of the perpetrator's possession of the replica and investigating his motives.
On Thursday morning, a dangerous incident occurred in the town of Strückhausen in the federal state of Lower Saxony. A 52-year-old resident of the town first threatened one person and then a sales representative who was near Zum Fähranleger street. A witness to the event immediately notified the police, reporting that the man aimed an object resembling a pistol at the salesman. Numerous police patrols from the Rodenkirchen station arrived at the scene. Officers located and detained the perpetrator without the need to use force. During a search, a replica pistol was secured. It was determined to be a gas-powered airsoft weapon, which does not pose a direct lethal threat but is used for deterrence. Both the affected salesman and the second person sustained no physical injuries. However, according to police reports, they experienced severe stress and a sense of threat. In Germany, the trade and use of dummy and replica weapons is subject to strict legal regulations under the Weapons Act (Waffengesetz). Possession of certain types of replicas in public places may require a permit, and their use in an intimidating manner or threatening with them is punishable under similar principles as possessing real firearms, which aims to prevent panic and real threats. The police criminal investigation department has initiated official proceedings in this case. Evidence is being gathered, and witnesses and the perpetrator are being questioned to determine the full course of events and the motives of the 52-year-old. Preliminary findings do not indicate any prior connection between the perpetrator and the victims, suggesting that there may have been a random, sudden escalation of conflict. The authorities are also checking whether the man had the legally required permit to possess and carry this specific replica. Local media, citing police sources, emphasize that merely displaying such an item for intimidation is treated very seriously by German law enforcement and the judiciary and carries criminal consequences.