SEK operation in Lüdenscheid: Residents must avoid Alte Straße!

SEK operation in Lüdenscheid: Residents must avoid Alte Straße!

There was a significant police operation in Lüdenscheid on August 13, 2025, which kept residents on tenterhooks. At around 2 p.m., the special operations command (SEK) was alerted due to a threat situation on Altenaer Straße. The road was closed in both directions between Fuelbecker Straße and Tweerweg, and police called for people to avoid the area during the operation. Police spokesman Lukas Borowski emphasized that the police were well positioned, but for tactical reasons there was no new information about the background to the operation. However, he was able to give the all-clear: According to initial findings, there is no danger to the general public. Drivers could drive towards Altena, but the city center was not accessible.

The current incidents in Lüdenscheid also include a traffic dispute that took place on Volmestrasse on Friday of last week. There a verbal argument broke out between a 40-year-old from Lüdenscheid, who was driving his Mercedes G-Class, and a 57-year-old from Lüdenscheid, who was driving a Mercedes Citan. The older driver, who was waiting due to traffic, verbally threatened the younger driver. The 40-year-old perceived the aggressive behavior as coercion and called in the police, who are now investigating into threats and suspicion of coercion in traffic. Witnesses are asked to come forward and describe their side of things.

More incidents in the region

Other explosive incidents also contributed to the tense security situation in Lüdenscheid. On Saturday evening, a garbage container on Brüderstrasse caught fire. Passersby got to the scene so quickly that they were able to put out the fire themselves before the fire department arrived. The police are now looking for witnesses who can contribute something to the cause of the fire.

A violent confrontation at Rathausplatz, which happened Friday into Saturday, also highlights the increasing concerns in the city. In front of a pizzeria, a 26-year-old Werdohler was hit in the face, while his 21-year-old brother tried to intervene and was also attacked. The attackers, two Kierspers, were sent off by the police. These incidents shed light on the current crime trend in Germany, which, according to the Police Crime Statistics (PKS), recorded a 1.7% decrease in recorded crimes in 2024, but left a growing feeling of insecurity among citizens.

The PKS shows that the number of suspects has fallen overall in recent years, while the clearance rate has fallen slightly. This is a testament to the challenges police face in protecting citizens. North Rhine-Westphalia, where Lüdenscheid is located, is one of the federal states with the highest crime rates, and citizens are increasingly concerned about their safety.

The events in Lüdenscheid paint a worrying picture and make people sit up and take notice. It remains to be hoped that the police will be able to stabilize the situation and regain the feeling of security among the people in the city.

For further information on the incidents and the security situation in Lüdenscheid, you can read the Report from Come-On and the Information from Märkische Police and the Crime Statistics.