Arson attack in Schwerin: 24-year-old sets fire to Molotov cocktail on train!

Arson attack in Schwerin: 24-year-old sets fire to Molotov cocktail on train!

On Sunday morning, a devastating incident in Schwerin almost led to a catastrophe. A 24-year-old man, an Algerian from Ludwigslust, lit a Molotov cocktail on tram line 1 and set himself and parts of the tram on fire. The Schwerin public prosecutor's office has now initiated an investigation into suspicion of serious arson. What is particularly explosive is that the perpetrator had previously been involved in a dispute on Marienplatz and sustained an injury to his arm.

The situation escalated after the man, heavily intoxicated, filled a beer bottle with gasoline at a nearby gas station. At 8:00 a.m. he got on the tram and headed towards the city center. The police stopped the tram at Mayor-Bade-Platz to check, but the man was faster and lit the Molotov cocktail before it could be removed in time by the tram driver.

The quick intervention of the police

Thanks to the quick intervention of the police, something worse was prevented, as they extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher from their company car. Nevertheless, the material damage is estimated at around 3,000 euros. The perpetrator suffered severe burns on his right leg as a result of the fire and was then taken to a special clinic in Lübeck.

Of course, there are also passengers on the tram: two to three other passengers were present at the time of the crime, but escaped the shock and remained uninjured. Meanwhile, the public prosecutor's office is checking whether the man will be taken into custody after his hospital stay. It remains unclear whether this was a motivated act. However, a suicidal background was ruled out.

Historical context of the Molotov cocktail

The Molotov cocktail is not only a feared weapon system in Schwerin, but also a weapon system steeped in history. It was first used during the Russian Civil War between 1918 and 1922 and has had many sad stops since then - including the Spanish Civil War and the Nomonhan Incident. The name “Molotov Cocktail” comes from 1939 and was coined by Finnish soldiers who successfully used these “primitive grenades” against Soviet tanks in the Winter War.

In Germany, Molotov cocktails are classified as a prohibited weapon and their acquisition, possession and production are strictly prohibited. Anyone who violates this must expect a prison sentence of six months to five years - a clear warning that is particularly important in the current situation. Construction instructions for Molotov cocktails were recently published in the context of the Ukraine conflict, which further increases the risk of such attacks.

The incident in Schwerin shows how quickly unrest can turn into violence and how strict compliance with legal regulations regarding dangerous weapons is. Conversations about security measures and awareness of such issues are likely to come into greater focus in the coming days.

For more information, see the articles from Schwerin local, Wikipedia and Mirror.