A 46-year-old man from Georgia had allegedly set his 46-year-old wife on fire in a tram in the Thuringian city of Gera on Sunday. The perpetrator managed to flee and a city-wide manhunt was launched immediately. The victim was seriously injured and was flown to a hospital for treatment of her injuries. The Gera State Police Inspectorate informed early in the morning that the man had now surrendered voluntarily.
Following the crime and initial findings on the backgrounds, a public appeal with a photo of the suspect was issued shortly after the crime. The police had already searched the shared apartment of the alleged perpetrator and the victim on Sunday, securing clothing for tracking dogs. The police press office then announced the following morning:
“The manhunt for the 46-year-old man has been discontinued. The suspect presented himself today at around 9:00 a.m. at the Gera State Police Inspectorate and was arrested by police officers without resistance.”
The investigations into the overall incident would continue, as it remained unclear “with what liquid the man had doused the 46-year-old woman in the tram.” Witnesses in the tram pressed the emergency button after the attempted murder, causing the tram to stop and the man was able to flee. The tram driver came to the woman’s aid immediately after the attack and extinguished the flames. The victim, however, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a specialized hospital by helicopter.
The MDR reported the day after the crime:
“It appears to be the husband of the victim. Both are of Georgian origin.”
The woman remains seriously ill in the hospital. The police are now investigating on charges of “attempted murder” and are seeking further witness statements about the crime.
Kurt Dannenberg, the Gera Mayor of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), issued an official statement on the crime:
“Violence against women has many faces – today’s crime is one of the most despicable. Regardless of the outcome, the victim will be marked for life by this event (…) This incident shows us in a shocking way that such brutal crimes can happen at any time and anywhere. The perpetrator had a flammable liquid with him – this was a planned crime, the end of a relationship drama (…) Dear women, if you experience violence in your relationship or have an uneasy feeling, seek help. Often it starts with small things.”
The statement ends with the assertion that “there is no place for oppression and self-justice in our society.