Bundesinnenminister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) called for a harsh sentence against the suspected perpetrator in the killing of a train attendant on a regional service. He urged that the “absolute hardness of the rule of law” be applied, and said he expected a “severe verdict”. Dobrindt was “shocked and alarmed” by the violent crime, adding that while absolute certainty is impossible, such acts cannot be accepted.
The victim was a 36‑year‑old railway employee who died from injuries after being struck on the head by fists during a ticket inspection on a regional train in Rhineland‑Palatinate.
In addition to demanding a tougher criminal law to better protect public‑service employees, Dobrindt stressed the need to “enhance the criminal protection of railway and other service‑sector staff”. The Minister answered union calls for more Bundespolizei presence on trains cautiously: “Today we already have a large police presence in the rail sector. Expanding the Bundespolizei has increased our capacity for visibility”. He highlighted the expansion of video surveillance as a key tool, noting that it has significantly improved clearance rates and acts as a deterrent. Dobrindt calls for further deployment of video monitoring in stations and on trains, but acknowledges that full surveillance of every station and train is “not possible”. He explained that the rail system is open, lacking the access restrictions found in air travel, which limits certain security measures.