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Germany is searching for a “dangerous Rambo” in a vacation area
Germany is gripped by the manhunt for a “dangerous Rambo.” The man is hiding in the forests of the popular vacation destination, the Black Forest. His name is Yves Rausch, and he is no stranger to the police, says Germany correspondent Ulrike Nagel on Stax&Toine. Listen to the clip from Radio 1.
Summary of this conversation
Journalist Ulrike Nagel discusses on Radio 1 the manhunt in Germany for the dangerous “Rambo of the Black Forest,” who was hiding in a popular vacation area.
Ulrike Nagel – Radio 1 – Germany searches for dangerous Rambo in vacation area
The Suspect: Yves Rausch [00:28]: Yves Rausch, a 31-year-old man, was convicted at age 20 of weapons possession and of inflicting life-threatening injuries on a girlfriend with a crossbow. He was known as an eccentric and was often seen wearing black robes and carrying a bow and arrow. Rausch grew up in Oppenau, where the incident took place, so everyone knew him.
The Incident and the Hostage Situation [01:31]: Police officers attempted to arrest Rausch while he was staying illegally in a cabin in the Black Forest (he had been evicted from his rental apartment for nonpayment). Rausch, who remained calm, handed over his weapons but then drew a concealed pistol and threatened the four officers. The officers, fearing for their lives, put down their weapons. Rausch then fled into the woods with the police weapons.
The Manhunt and the Terrain [02:46]: A large-scale search operation involving helicopters and numerous personnel was launched in the vast forested area around Oppenau. After 48 hours, the search in the forest was called off, but authorities suspect that Rausch is still in the area. The rugged terrain is making the search difficult.
Impact on the Population and Tourism [03:14]: The residents of Oppenau were urged to stay indoors; schools and daycare centers remained closed. The mayor expressed concern about the negative impact on tourism in the Black Forest, a well-known vacation region, now that hiking trails are perceived as unsafe.
The police expect a difficult search, given the suspect’s knowledge of the terrain.
“He didn’t overpower them. He was staying in a cabin in the woods where he was living illegally. The cabin owner called the police and said there was someone inside with weapons. The police went there and asked him to hand over his weapons. He did so, but kept one weapon hidden and used it to threaten the officers. The police were aware that this was a life-threatening situation, which is why the four police officers put down their weapons. The suspect then left with those weapons,” said Nagel.
