Scenes of horror: shots and injured people in front of the Dortmund vocational college!

Scenes of horror: shots and injured people in front of the Dortmund vocational college!

A worrying incident occurred in Dortmund that alarmed the local population. In front of the Karl Schiller vocational college today at 10 a.m. several students got into a heated argument. According to the police spokeswoman, around ten people were involved, including the shooter, who used a PTB weapon, a so-called blank gun. Fortunately, as things stand, there was only one sheet metal damage, although seven people suffered minor injuries after an unidentified person used pepper spray to further escalate the situation.

What was worrying was not only the explosion of conflict, but also the escape of the shooter. He left the weapon at the scene and was able to escape undetected. This motivated the police to rush to the scene with a larger number in order to bring the situation under control and locate the fleeing perpetrator. So far it remains unclear whether the injured students are actually all from the vocational college and what the background to the dispute was.

The importance of PTB weapons

PTB weapons, i.e. signal, blank or irritant weapons, can be freely purchased in Germany with a special PTB test seal. However, they represent a certain potential risk, which is reflected in the strict regulation of gun ownership. In Germany, where firearms fall under a restrictive gun law, only people over the age of 18 are allowed to own such weapons. Police have seized the PTB weapon used in the incident to further investigate the exact circumstances and type of weapon. In particular, it is examined whether it complied with the regulatory requirements.

Given these dramatic developments, it is essential to educate people about the challenges associated with firearms and their use. In 2023, for example, more than 9,100 offenses related to the use of firearms were recorded, an increase that shows that such incidents are not isolated cases. The number of crimes committed with firearms has been increasing across the country, which is also increasing the pressure on the police and the responsible authorities to take effective measures.

The investigation is in full swing. The police have already initiated proceedings for grievous bodily harm in order to shed light on the matter and prevent future conflicts. It is hoped that such incidents can be avoided in the future to ensure the safety of students and the community.

The events in Dortmund are symbolic of a societal discourse about how to deal with violence in schools and the use of firearms in our everyday lives. The question of how we as a society can counteract such developments will continue to concern us.

For more details on similar incidents and the gun issue, take a look at these articles from PZ News and n-tv. You can also find information about the legal framework regarding firearms in Germany at Statista find.