2018 Münster attack

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = 2018 Münster attack

| image = File:Münster, Kiepenkerl -- 2014 -- 0290.jpg

| image_size =

| image_upright =

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| caption =

| map = {{Location map| #Germany North Rhine-Westphalia#Germany

| coordinates = {{coord|51|57|51.0|N|7|37|34.5|E}}}}

| map_size =

| map_alt =

| map_caption =

| location = Münster, Germany

| target = Unknown

| coordinates = {{coord|51|57|51.0|N|7|37|34.5|E|region:DE_type:event|display=inline,title}}

| date = {{Start date and age|2018|04|07|df=y}}

| time = 15:27 CEST (13:27 UTC)

| type = Vehicle-ramming attack

| fatalities = 5 (including the perpetrator)

| injuries = 20

| victims =

| perpetrator = Jens Alexander Rüther

| assailants =

| susperps =

| weapons = Volkswagen California

| numparts =

| dfens =

| motive =

}}

{{OSM Location map

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On 7 April 2018, a man drove a camper van into people seated outside restaurants in a pedestrianised square in the old part of the German city of Münster. He killed four people and injured about 20 others, six of them seriously, before committing suicide.

Attack

File:Trauer am Kiepenkerl-Denkmal in Münster.jpg

On 7 April 2018, a man drove a gray Volkswagen California van into people seated outside restaurants in a pedestrianised square in the old part of the German city of Münster.{{cite news|last1=Chelsom-Pill|first1=Charlotte|title=German city of Münster searches for answers, days after deadly van attack|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/04/10/german-city-munster-searches-answers-days-after-deadly-van-attack/501985002/|accessdate=11 April 2018|agency=DW|publisher=USA Today|date=10 April 2018}} Police said the attacker drove into "several cafe and restaurant terraces in a major square in the centre of Münster". The perpetrator then shot himself dead. It was then found that his van was booby-trapped with a pistol connected to a wire.

The attack initially killed three people, including the perpetrator, and also injured about 20 others, six seriously.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43683687|title=Two killed in Germany as van ploughs into crowd in Muenster|date=7 April 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=7 April 2018|language=en-GB}} Another victim died on 26 April.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/m%C3%BCnster-attack-victim-dies-weeks-after-rampage/a-43554269|title=Münster attack victim dies weeks after rampage {{!}} DW {{!}} 26.04.2018|last=(www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche Welle|website=DW.COM|language=en|access-date=2018-04-27}} A Dutch victim who was in a coma after the attack died almost four months later on 29 July.[https://nos.nl/artikel/2243770-nederlands-slachtoffer-van-aanslag-op-terras-munster-overleden.html NOS news]

Prior to the attack, Münster was planning to install security bollards in public areas, although the list of public spaces regarded as high-risk and slated to receive bollards did not include the location of this attack.{{cite news|title=Do bollards offer protection against vehicle attacks?|url=http://www.dw.com/en/do-bollards-offer-protection-against-vehicle-attacks/a-43300057|accessdate=8 April 2018|publisher=DW|date=8 March 2018}}

Perpetrator

File:Münster 26.11.21 JM (4).jpg

The attacker was identified by media sources as a 48-year-old German national named Jens Alexander Rüther, born about "an hour south" of the city,{{cite news|last1=Huggler|first1=Justin|title=German police arrest men suspected of terror plot on Berlin half marathon|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/08/german-police-arrest-man-suspected-terror-plot-berlin-half-marathon/|accessdate=10 April 2018|work=The Telegraph|date=8 April 2018}} who had previously suffered from psychiatric illness.

Media reported that Rüther was born on 1 May 1969 and had resided in Münster. Deutsche Welle described him as a "wealthy designer." He was later known as small-time criminal, who stole cell phones and car radios to finance his drug addiction. Local reports claimed that he had been in contact with certain far-right groups but had not been an extremist himself.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} He had said in the past that he wanted to commit suicide in a spectacular way. Authorities also considered the possibility that he committed the crime due to relationship problems.[https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article175256084/Amokfahrt-von-Muenster-Jens-R-hat-seine-Tat-offensichtlich-perfide-kalkuliert.html Jens R. hat seine Tat offensichtlich perfide kalkuliert], Die Welt, 7 April 2018

He came from the Sauerland, grew up in Madfeld and graduated from high school Petrinum Brilon.[https://www.wp.de/staedte/altkreis-brilon/taeter-von-muenster-stammt-aus-madfeld-ein-dorf-unter-schock-id213956753.html Täter von Münster stammt aus Madfeld - Ein Dorf unter Schock]

There had been five criminal proceedings against Jens Ruther, three of them at the public prosecutor's office Münster and two at the Arnsberg public prosecutor's office. The proceedings in Arnsberg dealt with two “family disputes” from 2014 and 2016. In Münster, he was accused of hit and run (2015), criminal damage (2015) and fraud (2016). All proceedings were terminated due to insufficient suspicion.{{cite web|title=Polizei und Staatsanwaltschaft geben weitere Ermittlungsergebnisse zum Tatgeschehen in Münster bekannt|periodical=Gemeinsame Presseerklärung der Staatsanwaltschaft Münster und der Polizei Münster|publisher=|url=https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/11187/3910766|url-status=|format=|access-date=2018-04-10|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}}

State Interior Minister Herbert Reul said on the day of the attack that there was no indication of an Islamist background of the attack.{{Cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/muenster-attacke-mit-kleinlaster-was-bislang-bekannt-ist-a-1201760.html|title=Attacke in Münster: Täter soll psychische Probleme gehabt haben|last=Diehl|first=Jörg|date=2018-04-07|work=Spiegel Online|access-date=2018-04-07|last2=Hagen|first2=Kevin |language=German |trans-title=Attack in Münster: perpetrator has had mental health problems}} On 18 April, Reul said that after an analysis by the security authorities, right-wing extremism was also ruled out as a motive. He said that, rather, the crime "had to do with the life" of the perpetrator and his "assignment of guilt".[http://www.rp-online.de/nrw/panorama/todesfahrt-von-muenster-hat-laut-herbert-reul-keinen-rechtsextremen-hintergrund-aid-1.7525693 Kein rechtsextremer Hintergrund bei Todesfahrt von Münster], Rheinische Post, 19 April 2018

The crime was judged as extended suicide for personal reasons.{{cite web|title=Ermittler sind sich sicher: Fahrer handelte in Suizidabsicht|periodical=Gemeinsame Presseerklärung der Staatsanwaltschaft Münster und der Polizei Münster|publisher=|url=https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/11187/3912007|url-status=|format=|access-date=2018-04-10|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}}

Reactions

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "deeply shocked" about the crime. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his condolences to the victims and relatives. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin condemned the crime and offered their sympathies. A public memorial service was held on the following Sunday.[https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article175255656/Reaktionen-auf-Amoktat-Merkel-zutiefst-erschuettert-Trump-und-Putin-kondolieren.html Merkel "zutiefst erschüttert" – Trump und Putin kondolieren], Die Welt, 7 April 2018