Zug sees women subjected to verbal abuse and threats in Harburg
In a recent incident at Harburg station in Germany, a 22-year-old man of Eritrean origin was removed from a metronom train and taken into custody following accusations of threatening two women with a box cutter and insulting law enforcement officers.
The incident is being investigated under German criminal law, which views threats with a dangerous weapon, such as a box cutter, as a form of assault or threat of bodily harm. These offences are classified as "bedrohung" (threat) or "gefährliche Körperverletzung" (dangerous bodily injury) if the threat involves a weapon. The penalties for such threats depend on factors like the presence of a weapon, the intent, and the level of harm caused or feared. Being intoxicated may affect the judgment but does not exempt from liability.
The man, who was found to be intoxicated with a breath alcohol test result of 1.95 per mil, allegedly insulted and threatened two women aged 25 and 26 with a box cutter. Due to a lack of detention grounds, the 22-year-old had to be released. However, the investigation is ongoing, and further legal action may be taken.
In addition to the alleged threats, the man also reportedly insulted federal police officers. Insulting a public official or a police officer, especially if repeated, can incur fines or imprisonment under §§ 185-187 of the German Criminal Code (StGB), which covers insult (Beleidigung) and defamation. When offenses are committed against officers on duty, penalties are usually harsher.
If the threat causes actual harm or involves dangerous escalation, charges could become more severe, potentially including imprisonment for several years. Repeated insults combined with threats might also lead to compounded charges.
It is essential to note that the German legal system treats threatening someone with a box cutter while intoxicated as a serious criminal offense, possibly assault with a dangerous weapon, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment. Repeated insults towards law enforcement officers can result in fines or imprisonment, especially if done during officers’ official duties. Both actions are punishable regardless of intoxication and may lead to arrest, prosecution, and potential imprisonment.
[1] Source: German Criminal Code (StGB) [2] Source: German Police Force
The 22-year-old man's case, involving threatening two women and insulting federal police officers, is being investigated as a possible assault or threat of bodily harm under German criminal law, classified as "bedrohung" or "gefährliche Körperverletzung" due to the use of a box cutter as a weapon. Additionally, insulting a public official or a police officer, if repeated, can incur fines or imprisonment under §§ 185-187 of the German Criminal Code (StGB), making such actions against officers on duty subject to harsher penalties. Both offenses are punishable regardless of intoxication.
