Authorities in Germany have arrested two U.S. soldiers on suspicion of killing a local man in his late 20s following a reported “altercation” at the Wittlich Säubrenner funfair on Aug. 19, according to police.
Police in the southwestern German city of Trier, located near the Luxembourg border, said in a press release on Aug. 20 that the two military men, identified only as a 25- and 26-year-old, were visiting the fair with friends when a fight broke out, during which the victim was stabbed to death.
Officials have not identified the victim beyond being a 28-year-old man from Wittlich.
German prosecutors have handed over the case to U.S. investigative authorities, police said, noting U.S. prosecutors will take over the investigation “in accordance with NATO troop statute.”
“We have never experienced this here,” Wittlich Mayor Joachim Rodenkirch said during an interview with local media.
A German police spokesperson told NBC News on Aug. 21 that the two soldiers are stationed at the U.S. Air Force’s Spangdahlem Air Base, which is close to Trier.
Since the end of World War II, the United States has had many American troops stationed in Germany. In 1990, toward the end of the Cold War, there were around 200,000 soldiers, but to this day, that number has declined to about 34,500.
In July 2020, then-President Donald Trump, citing the difference in contributions to NATO between Washington and Berlin, announced that he was going to pull some 9,500 of the roughly 34,500 U.S. troops that are stationed in Germany. However, President Joe Biden has since stopped the Trump administration’s plan to bring back home more U.S. troops.
The U.S. Air Force, meanwhile, told the news outlet that the two service members were questioned and then transferred into U.S. custody.
“This is certainly an intolerable and preventable tragedy in our peaceful community,” Col. Kevin Crofton, commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing stationed at the base, said in a statement. “We thank the local Polizei and the Wittlich town leadership for their partnership and patience as the investigation runs its course.”
City Responds
In a press release on Aug. 20, Mr. Rodenkirch commended investigative authorities for their dedicated work and for achieving rapid search results.
“The rapid identification and arrest of the suspects not only shows the high level of professionalism of our police forces, but also underlines the importance of well-coordinated cooperation between law enforcement agencies and our city,” the mayor said. “This success sends a clear signal to our citizens that their safety is our top priority.”
In another statement, Mr. Rodenkirch offered his “deepest sympathy” to the parents and family of the victim, saying the victim died in a brutal way at an event “where many people come together to celebrate peacefully.”
“With heavy hearts, the city has decided to let the fair continue despite the tragedy,” he said. “The decision wasn’t easy. There will certainly be people who find this disrespectful to the victim and family. Others will argue that the fair is an important part of the city’s identity and its continuation is an act of resistance to violence.”
Mr. Rodenkirch also said that the reported stabbing was “a one-off act” and there is currently no danger to the general public.
The United States has several major military facilities in Germany, including Ramstein Air Base, the headquarters for U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest U.S. hospital outside the United States.