Hamburg police are searching for a machete-wielding migrant gang that reportedly stormed a high-rise building in the early hours of Monday, resulting in a 15-year-old boy falling to his death from the eighth floor.
As reported by Bild, the incident unfolded around 1:15 a.m. at Soltauer Ring in the Harburg district of the German port city. Armed with at least one machete, the gang of young men forced their way into an apartment on the eighth floor, according to police reports.
Inside, they launched a violent attack on those present. Moments later, the teenage victim — identified as an Iraqi national — crashed into the courtyard below from the balcony of the apartment.
Despite emergency services rushing to the scene and attempting resuscitation, the boy died shortly after their arrival.
Three other young men, aged between 17 and 22 and also of Iraqi nationality, were inside the apartment at the time of the attack.
Police say the perpetrators fled immediately, sparking a large-scale manhunt across the city. Heavily armed officers, with the support of police dogs, searched through the high-rise and surrounding areas for clues. In the Hammerbrook district, authorities intercepted two taxis and arrested five suspects matching witness descriptions: four Syrian males aged 16 to 20 and a 22-year-old Iraqi woman.
All five are currently in custody under suspicion of involvement in the deadly attack.
Investigators are working to establish whether the teenager was pushed or if he fell while trying to escape the assault.
According to NDR, who spoke with residents, the building where the attack took place has long been plagued by serious problems. Locals described the 14-story high-rise as a hub for drug trafficking and crime, with deteriorating conditions and rising safety concerns.
The Hamburg homicide squad is leading the investigation while police continue to secure evidence, including a machete reportedly recovered at the scene.
