Anti-foreigner serial killer claims 8th victim in Germany

7 April 2006

DORTMUND, GERMANY – A serial killer targeting foreigners running small businesses claimed his eighth victim this week, leaving police baffled as to a motive.

A 39-year-old Turk found dead in his kiosk in Dortmund on Tuesday had been shot with the same gun used in the seven previous killings since September 2000, prosecutors said Friday.

All the victims except one were Turks. “In each case the killer visited his victims in their premises and shot them in the head several times,” prosecutor Heiko Artkaemper said.

Nothing was stolen and the victims appeared to have offered no resistance. “The killings bear the hallmark of an execution,” Artkaemper said.

Police have been unable to establish a motive for the crimes, which took place in five cities across the country, including Hamburg in the north and Munich in the south.

The victims appear to have been chosen at random, Artkaemper said. The only thing they had in common was that they were foreign and operated small businesses like fast-food outlets.

Police said there was nothing to suggest a political motive, blackmail or drugs involvement.

Authorities have offered a reward of 30,000 euros (36,000 dollars) for information leading to the arrest of the gunman.

DPA

Subject: German news