Update on fatal family tragedy in Bonn Man kills wife and young child in Plittersdorf

Bonn-Plittersdorf · Further details are emerging about yesterday’s shocking events in the former American compound in Plittersdorf in which a woman and child were found dead in their apartment and a 40-year-old man died after a confrontation with police.

A deadly family drama was played out in the former American compound in Plittersdorf in the early hours of Monday morning. Police spokesman Robert Scholten said a 40-year-old man had killed his 39-year-old wife and their three-year-old child in an apartment on Martin-Luther-King-Straße opposite the headquarters of Solar World. They were probably stabbed to death. Residents said the child was a girl. The 40-year-old died after a confrontation with police.

Neighbours had called police at around 5.20am because they heard a loud argument in the apartment block. The fire brigade helped police access the first floor apartment using a balcony at the rear.

Once inside they first found the lifeless child and then the mother in different rooms. The emergency services could only confirm both had died. According to police, the 40-year-old father had locked himself “in a room.” The General Anzeiger discovered this was the bathroom.

When police opened the door, the man charged at them. According to GA information he had a knife. Police said yesterday afternoon that “officers had used their firearms in the confrontation.” The 40-year-old died at the scene. It is not clear if he died from the shooting or from apparently self-inflicted injuries. “The postmortem will first confirm the cause of death,” said Karen Essig, a spokeswoman for the Bonn public prosecutor’s office.

Cologne murder squad to clarify what happened during confrontation

What exactly happened during the confrontation between the father and police is also the subject of further investigations. A murder squad from Cologne has taken over the inquiries. Scholten confirmed this was for reasons of neutrality. It is still unclear what caused the drama.

Residents describe the family as “normal” and “ordinary.” Scholten said they were not known to police and there is nothing to suggest that “there had already been violent incidents within the family.”

According to GA information the parents and child had Hungarian citizenship. Both father and mother worked for a large company in Bonn.

Residents – including some children – and police officers were immediately given emergency counselling by a five-man team. “This is an exceptional situation for the neighbours. Many people are in shock,” said Scholten.

Residents and police officers received counselling

“Numerous families in the apartment block saw something,” said Jörg Trauboth, who coordinated the emergency counselling. A crime can also be traumatic for those who are “only” witnesses not victims, especially when children are affected.

Mothers in particular will also be told what to say to their children. Small children cannot be told: “that a man killed his family,” said Trauboth. The child should be told that he is safe but the other child, the friend from nursery or playmate is no longer alive.

“It is important that the mothers are calm as children immediately notice emotional uncertainty.” This is often difficult. From experience, parents do not cope with these situations as well as their offspring. “Nevertheless, mothers often instinctively do everything right. They say everything is alright and that the child does not need to be frightened.” Parents should observe their children and seek further help if needed.

In the afternoon, the police asked camera teams and photographers to leave scene because children living in the compound were coming home from school.

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