Hamburg police detain armed men in overnight raids after a string of shootings

Overnight operation

Hamburg police ran a large operation across the city centre, HafenCity and St. Pauli during the night from Friday, 6 November, into Saturday, 7 November. According to NDR, it was the first targeted operation by the special unit the police call BAO Kinesis. Plainclothes officers, uniformed police and customs officers checked cars in several districts. The first stop came shortly before 22:00 in Bugenhagenstrasse near the main station, where officers halted several expensive cars. Reports say the men had been seen at a cash handover before officers moved in. Five men were detained there, and a 46-year-old had a loaded firearm with ammunition within reach.

Cash, weapons and charges

During a search of the 46-year-old, officers found 23,000 euros in cash, and he was taken into pretrial detention to appear before a judge. Police say he and a 25-year-old are suspected of money laundering and of violating the Weapons Act. The other men detained in the first group were released once the police measures had ended. Later, officers stopped a car in HafenCity carrying a 24-year-old and a 25-year-old, and a firearm with ammunition was found on the older of the two. Officers seized a further 3,000 euros in cash there, and only the 25-year-old was taken into pretrial detention.

Search of 46-year-old, 6 November23,000

Car search in HafenCity, 6 to 7 November3,000

Search of 46-year-old, 6 November

23000 EUR

Car search in HafenCity, 6 to 7 November

3000 EUR

Data from the article text

Hells Angels reports

Media reports say a leading member of the Hells Angels was among those detained in the first group. NDR also reports that two men arrested outside a cinema in HafenCity are believed to belong to the same gang. The police did not confirm the membership reports when they first commented. In the early hours, NDR reports that several tens of thousands of euros in cash were found during a separate check near the Reeperbahn, where two more men were arrested after a car believed to be a drug taxi was stopped. The police have said little beyond their operational statements.

Shootings and what comes next

The operation follows a run of shootings in Hamburg since the summer. On 1 September, two men were shot dead on a commercial yard in St. Pauli and a third was injured. In October the police announced they would not tolerate the growing arming in certain criminal circles and would intensify their efforts. Police said the measures were carried out in light of recent acts of violence and aimed to gather findings about the people involved, their links and their contact networks. Police spokesman Sebastian Born set out the line:

“We are pursuing a clear and consistent line against armed criminals. Zero tolerance for carrying illegal weapons in Hamburg!”

Further measures are planned for the coming weeks, according to the police.