Overview

• A 75-year-old man entered the Germersheim Sparkasse on July 2 with a canister of accelerant and brandished a knife at a staff member.
• He ignited the accelerant at the teller counter, triggering a flame that caused extensive property damage without seriously injuring anyone.
• A bank employee suffered minor injuries during a confrontation before police detained the suspect at the scene.
• Preliminary estimates put the property damage at around €50,000 as detectives seek to establish the suspect’s motive.
• The Sparkasse Südpfalz office is closed for repairs while the suspect undergoes a psychiatric evaluation.