A 28-year-old Iraqi man has been released after allegedly firing multiple shots at an apartment building in the German city of Aachen.
The incident took place in the early hours of March 14 on Perlisker Straße. Investigators say the suspect fired at a first-floor flat, with police recovering eleven cartridge cases at the scene. Several bullets struck windows and parts of the interior, and one hit a gas pipeline, prompting concerns about a possible explosion. Authorities temporarily evacuated twelve residents while the gas supply was shut off and the building secured. No one was injured.
Police arrested the man shortly after the shooting and said he was carrying an empty pistol. Tests indicated he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, including amphetamines. During his arrest, he reportedly claimed to be a “freedom fighter in Iran” and later admitted to carrying out the attack.
Prosecutors initially investigated the case as attempted manslaughter but later downgraded the charges to illegal possession of a weapon and property damage. As a result, no arrest warrant was issued and the suspect was released.
Authorities confirmed the man has a prior criminal record, including offences such as dangerous bodily harm, theft, and attempted manslaughter.
Separate federal data, released in response to a parliamentary question from AfD MP Sebastian Münzenmaier, indicates that dozens of homicide suspects in Germany lack secure residency status, with many holding only temporary leave to remain or no legal status at all.
