Violent crime in Munich. News. A man was found hurt in the Old Botanical Garden and later died in the hospital. Police have arrested two men and are searching for another suspect. It is believed the man was the victim of a violent attack in the park in central Munich. The 57-year-old was found badly injured near the main train station on Wednesday, according to a police spokesperson. He died at the hospital, and police are now investigating the case as a possible murder.
Violent crime in Munich
Investigators first believed there was a “larger group of suspects” involved, and they began searching for them. Several checkpoints were set up, and two men were arrested shortly after. In the afternoon, police shared a photo of the main suspect and asked the public for help. According to investigators, the suspect is not considered dangerous to others. It is believed that the suspect and the victim knew each other.
The details surrounding the crime were initially unclear. According to the police, there was “no evidence of knives or firearms” at first. However, video surveillance from the Old Botanical Garden showed a violent confrontation that morning. The victim died from blunt force injuries, including to the head, as reported by Tagesspiegel.
The Old Botanical Garden has long been seen as a crime hotspot in Munich, prompting the city’s task force to focus on improving security in the area, known for drug trafficking. To enhance safety, trees and bushes were trimmed, lighting was improved, police access roads were widened, and benches and table tennis tables were removed, as they were often used by drug dealers for trading or as places to sleep. In June 2024, the police added new video surveillance and increased their presence in the park.
In 2023, police reported 936 crimes in that part of Munich, with 790 related to drugs. There were also 88 cases of physical injury and 13 sexual offenses, indicating that a crime occurs there nearly every nine hours, according to BILD.