Hanau/Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) – In the Hessian state parliament’s investigative committee on the racist attack in Hanau, witnesses gave contradicting information about the emergency exit in the Arena Bar. The former operator said on Monday that this exit was open on the evening of the crime. “The emergency exit was always closed, everyone knew that,” reported a 27-year-old woman who survived the February 19, 2020 attack in a neighboring kiosk. She is still mentally stressed today, she finds it difficult to cope with everyday life, and the memories keep coming back. “In my dreams I see the eyes of the perpetrator,” said the woman, who was pregnant at the time.
A 43-year-old German shot nine people in Hanau for racist reasons, including in the Arena Bar and in the neighboring kiosk. Then he killed his mother and himself. The committee of inquiry should clarify whether there was a failure of the authorities around the crime.
The former operator of the Arena Bar contradicted himself several times in his statement, for example he also said that he had never checked the emergency exit. He also repeatedly referred to gaps in memory. Several members of the committee said they had serious doubts about the man’s credibility.
Among other things, survivors and victims’ relatives had made allegations that the emergency exit was closed and that an escape route was blocked. Prosecutors dropped their investigations last year.
