A violent confrontation in the Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck district of North Rhine-Westphalia turned deadly on Sunday evening, leaving one man dead and multiple others seriously injured. Police confirmed that a 56-year-old man succumbed to fatal stab wounds in hospital following the large-scale altercation that involved up to 30 people. The incident prompted a massive police response, including helicopter support and the establishment of a homicide investigation unit.
According to police and prosecutor statements, the brawl involved weapons including knives, electroshock devices, and baseball bats, with authorities describing the scene as a "riot situation." Three additional men, aged 24 and 27, sustained life-threatening injuries and remained hospitalized on Monday, though their conditions were no longer considered critical. A 56-year-old woman also received injuries but was discharged after outpatient treatment.
Law enforcement officials made six provisional arrests at the scene, detaining three men aged 16, 29, and 52, along with three women aged 25, 28, and 50. The Essen public prosecutor's office stated that investigators are currently determining the specific roles each individual played in the incident, with the background and motives behind the confrontation remaining under active investigation.
Security sources indicated that the participants belonged to two Turkish extended families not previously known as criminal clans, with no evidence suggesting organized crime involvement. The violent dispute appears to have stemmed from private motives, though the exact nature of the conflict remains unclear. Police had previously been called to the location due to escalating disputes within the family, suggesting the Sunday confrontation represented the culmination of a long-simmering conflict.