According to the police, at least four people were seriously injured in the attack in a gym in Duisburg’s old town. Numerous emergency services were on site in the evening, as a dpa reporter reported. Visitors to the gym were therefore looked after by pastors. According to the police, “at least” one attacker had injured several people. Investigators tweeted that witnesses should contact police.
The police wrote on Twitter: “According to the current status, a person injured other people with an object.” Accordingly, the first emergency calls were received by the Duisburg police around 5:40 p.m. The gym is opposite the town hall.
Bas dismayed at attack
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas was dismayed by what had happened. “Terrible,” wrote the SPD politician on Twitter in the evening. “My thoughts are with the injured. I hope that the emergency services will soon be able to clarify the threatening situation.” Bas represents the constituency 115 Duisburg I as a member of the Bundestag. The fitness studio is located in the constituency.
Investigators searched and secured the gym, police said. Witnesses who were training on site at the time of the crime are currently being questioned. The studio was now secured, it said shortly after 8 p.m.
According to the dpa reporter, heavily armed special police forces were on site. Eyewitnesses were questioned by the police in a nearby restaurant, he reported. One still had his sports bag with him.
In connection with the attack, the police asked the population to avoid the affected area around the city hall in the city center. “We are on site with strong forces,” said a spokesman for the Essen police, who had taken over the press work.
