He has since been extradited to Germany and is now once again in a secure psychiatric unit.
The case drew national attention: the man responsible for the 2009 school attack in Ansbach had disappeared. Now 34 years old, he failed to return to a psychiatric clinic in Erlangen after being granted day leave.
Returned from Colombia to Germany
Authorities confirmed on Sunday morning that the man was captured in Colombia. He was flown back to Germany early the same day and “immediately transferred to the secure unit of the forensic psychiatric facility in Erlangen,” according to prosecutors.
He had vanished on August 16 after one of his therapy-related day releases. Such outings had been granted regularly since the beginning of the year without any incidents.
Tracked Down with a European Arrest Warrant
Following his disappearance, police launched a nationwide search backed by a European arrest warrant. Initially, a trail led to Munich. Intensive investigations eventually uncovered his location in Colombia, where he was detained.
A Model of International Cooperation
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) praised the swift action: “Thanks to the careful work of Erlangen’s criminal police, specially trained investigators at the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, and the Federal Criminal Police Office, the fugitive was located abroad and returned in a model example of international cooperation.”
The 2009 Attack in Ansbach
On September 17, 2009, the then 18-year-old stormed the Carolinum Gymnasium in Ansbach armed with axes, knives, and incendiary devices. Several students were injured before police stopped him with gunfire.
In April 2010, he was sentenced to nine years in juvenile detention, along with indefinite placement in a psychiatric facility.
Forensic Psychiatry in Germany
Forensic psychiatry is used when offenders are deemed not criminally responsible or only partially responsible due to mental illness. Facilities with heightened security aim both to protect the public and provide therapeutic treatment, with the goal of rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society. The length of confinement depends on diagnosis, treatment progress, and risk assessment.
Latest Posts
