The Hanau Shootings: A Night of Terror

Prelude to Tragedy

On the chilling evening of February 19, 2020, the city of Hanau in Hesse, Germany, was shattered by a brutal act of terrorism. Tobias Rathjen, a 43-year-old far-right extremist, unleashed a shooting spree targeting ethnic minorities, leaving a trail of death and despair. The massacre, which lasted mere minutes, claimed eleven lives, including Rathjen's own, and left six individuals wounded, marking it as one of the darkest days in recent German history.

The Night Unfolds

The horror began precisely at 9:55 PM CET at La Votre Bar on Heumarkt. Rathjen, armed with a CZ 75 pistol, entered the bar and opened fire, killing a bartender instantly. As chaos erupted, he stepped outside and shot a man on the sidewalk before crossing into the neighboring Midnight Bar. There, he fired three shots from the doorway, fatally striking the bar owner. Witnesses later reported hearing up to a dozen gunshots. Rathjen then switched to a SIG Sauer P226 and confronted a man outside a kiosk, demanding to know if he was a foreigner. The man remained silent, and Rathjen fled the scene.

Turning onto Krämerstraße, Rathjen targeted the car of Vili Viorel Păun, who attempted to reverse and pursue the shooter. Rathjen tried to enter a nearby kiosk but left upon finding it empty, returning to his car parked nearby. A brief car chase ensued as Rathjen fled, with Păun in pursuit. The first wave of violence left three people dead in central Hanau.

Continuing his spree, Rathjen drove to the Arena Bar & Café in Kesselstadt, 2.5 kilometers away. During the drive, Păun made five desperate attempts to contact emergency services, but silence greeted his three successful calls as the dispatcher was overwhelmed by the events at Heumarkt. Upon arrival, Rathjen shot Păun, seated in his vehicle, before entering an adjacent kiosk and killing three more individuals. Inside the Arena Bar, as patrons attempted to flee, he claimed two more lives and wounded three others. Survivors later revealed that escape routes were tragically blocked, locking them in a deadly trap. Rathjen exited the bar less than a minute later, leaving six dead at this location.

The Aftermath

In the wake of the shootings, Hanau was engulfed in chaos. Initially, the gunman was reported at large, prompting a massive police investigation. However, Rathjen had already driven to his home near the Arena Bar, where he committed matricide, shooting his 72-year-old mother, Gabriele Rathjen, before turning the gun on himself in the basement. His father, unharmed, reportedly used his computer during the police standoff to view his son's manifesto.

Police discovered Rathjen and his mother at 5:15 AM the following day. It was believed Rathjen killed his mother as a "mercy-killing" due to her neurological condition. The city was left reeling as the magnitude of the tragedy sunk in.

Victims of Hate

The victims of Rathjen's attack were a diverse group, reflecting the multicultural fabric of Hanau. Among them were Gökhan Gültekin, Ferhat Unvar, Mercedes Kierpacz, and Said Nesar Hashemi, all German citizens with varied ethnic backgrounds, along with Sedat Gürbüz and Fatih Saraçoğlu, both Turkish nationals, and Hamza Kurtović, a Bosnian. Kaloyan Velkov from Bulgaria and Vili Viorel Păun from Romania were also among those slain. Both Velkov and Păun were members of the Romani community. The owner of one of the shisha bars was counted among the dead, highlighting the senseless targeting of innocent individuals. In addition to the deceased, two Turkish-Germans, an Afghan-German, and a Cameroonian-German were injured.

The Mind of a Killer

Tobias Rathjen was no stranger to extremist ideologies. His personal website revealed a disturbing manifesto filled with racist and misogynistic views. He accused U.S. President Donald Trump of stealing his slogans and expressed a desire for extreme eugenics. Media dubbed him an "involuntary celibate" or incel, though researchers later identified him as part of the "Men Going Their Own Way" movement. Rathjen claimed to be guided by voices and believed secret agents were monitoring him, a delusion he had shared with authorities months before the attack. His manifesto called for the extermination of migrants and expressed hatred for Germans who supported immigration.

Rathjen's arsenal was legally owned, consisting of three firearms, with a fourth borrowed from a gun trader the day before the attack. Graffiti linked to his website appeared around Hanau, further cementing his twisted motives.

Investigation and Reaction

Federal prosecutors labeled the attack as terrorism, citing Rathjen's far-right extremism and xenophobic motives. Investigators found a letter and video confession, further illustrating his deranged mindset. Authorities and the public alike grappled with the tragic loss and the hate-fueled ideology that spurred it.

The shockwaves reached far beyond Hanau. German Chancellor Angela Merkel canceled a planned trip to Halle to offer condolences, while leaders across Europe, including the Turkish government and the Pope, condemned the attacks. On February 23, 2020, a massive march drew 10,000 mourners to Hanau in a show of unity and support for the victims. The United Kingdom responded by proscribing far-right groups, acknowledging the growing threat of extremist ideologies.

One year later, Germany commemorated the victims with memorials and rallies, reinforcing a national commitment to combat racism and honor those lost.

Cultural Reflection

The Hanau shootings left a deep scar, inspiring filmmaker Uwe Boll to create a fictionalized portrayal titled "Hanau: Deutschland im Winter - Part 1," released in March 2022 to mixed reviews.

This tragic event, a stark reminder of the destructive power of hate, continues to resonate, urging vigilance and compassion in the face of extremism.

Sources

For more information, see the original Wikipedia article: Hanau shootings