German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) demanded a severe judgment against the suspected killer after a train guard was murdered aboard a regional service in Rhineland‑Palatinate. “The culprit must be met with the absolute harshness of the rule of law” he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, adding that he expected a “hard sentence”. He said he was “shocked and stunned” by the violent act and insisted that such violent crimes cannot be tolerated.
The victim, a 36‑year‑old railway employee, died after being struck on the head with fists during a ticket inspection on the regional train. The attack left him with fatal injuries.
Dobrindt also called for stricter criminal legislation to better protect employees of public services. He urged an increase in the legal safeguards for railway staff and other service‑industry workers.
When unions pressed for increased federal police presence on trains, the minister noted that the police already operate extensively in the rail sector. “With the expansion of the Bundespolizei, the ability to maintain a visible presence has increased” he said. He highlighted the importance of expanding video surveillance, claiming that it has significantly raised detection rates and serves as a deterrent. “Video monitoring should continue to be expanded in stations and on trains” Dobrindt added, but stressed that full monitoring of all stations and trains is not feasible. “The railway is an open system, so unlike air travel there are no access restrictions” he explained.
