Rumor about the murder of young people in Bad Belzig turns out to be a hoax

Rumor about the murder of young people in Bad Belzig turns out to be a hoax

A disturbing rumor is causing a stir in Bad Belzig. Accordingly, a murder of a young person is said to have occurred in the Klinkengrund residential area. The girl's body was allegedly discovered in a forest playground, although the descriptions are horrifying: there is talk of a cut throat. But maz-online.de reports that The police and residents unanimously confirm that this is an untenable rumor.

On June 20th, tactical investigative reasons led to a search of an apartment on Hans-Marchwitza-Strasse by a special task force. There was suspicion of illegal possession of weapons. However, details of the results of the search have not been released. Since March 1, 2023, there have been no investigations into a suspected homicide in Bad Belzig. The last confirmed murder case occurred in June 2023 on Goethestrasse, when a perpetrator was sentenced to seven years in prison for his crime.

**Misunderstandings and Rumors**

The rumor about an honor killing that is making the rounds in a Facebook group for Bad Belzig is described as unfounded. There is no evidence of a cover-up by city politicians or police. Ruth Koschel, an active citizen, expresses concern that such erroneous information is affecting the city's sense of security. City councilor Gustav Horn (SPD) emphasizes the urgency of dealing intensively with the spread of disinformation.

Mayor Robert Pulz also shows his understanding of the situation and plans to contact the police again. In particular, targeted measures such as the use of street workers should be implemented in order to counteract the general increase in uncertainty among the population.

**Brutal violence in the region**

The concern about safety in Bad Belzig has a serious background. The region was recently affected by a dramatic incident: a 34-year-old, known as the “Sultan of Bad Belzig”, was convicted of bodily harm resulting in death. tagesspiegel.de reports that The judgment of the Potsdam Regional Court has now also been confirmed by the Federal Court of Justice. The defendant brutally beat a man from the drinking scene beyond recognition and then did not care about his well-being. The deceased's body was only found months later during a search, hidden under clothing and blankets on the perpetrator's balcony.

**A look at violent crime in Germany**

Violent crimes in Germany account for less than 4% of all crimes recorded by the police, but they have a significant impact on citizens' sense of security. In 2024 there were loud noises Statista.com registered around 217,000 violent crimes, the highest number since 2007. Homelessness, economic insecurity and social stress are among the possible reasons for the increase in violent families. The acts of violence against rescue workers recorded in 2023 are also particularly worrying, with their numbers reaching record highs.

It remains to be hoped that the prevailing uncertainty will soon be a thing of the past and Bad Belzig can once again establish itself as a safe place for its citizens.