Dozens of swastikas painted in human blood were found on cars, mailboxes and building facades in downtown Hanau, Germany. German police have launched an investigation into the incident, and a 31-year-old man has been arrested.
Police spokesman Thomas Leipold said officers were alerted on Wednesday night by a man who reported seeing a swastika drawn in a reddish fluid on the hood of a parked car. Police later said nearly 50 vehicles had been vandalized in a similar way. A special analysis quickly confirmed the substance was human blood. Displaying Nazi symbols, including the swastika, is illegal in Germany.
“The motive remains unclear,” Leipold said, adding that investigators have yet to determine whether the cars, mailboxes and buildings were specifically targeted or if the swastikas were painted at random. He noted that investigators had also found additional markings on other vehicles and buildings, but their meaning was still unclear.
Police arrested a suspect and are working to determine the source of the blood, Leipold said. Authorities are not aware of any injuries connected to the incident. For now, police are investigating the case as property damage and the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations.
The case was apparently solved relatively quickly. The suspect was taken into custody on Thursday, according to the Hanau public prosecutor’s office and police, who informed the KNA news agency that afternoon. The man, a 31-year-old Hanau resident with Romanian citizenship, is believed by police to have used his own blood.
Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour, of the Green Party, expressed outrage over the incident. “This leaves me speechless,” he said. “This act strikes at the very heart of the city of Hanau and reopens the wounds of the right-wing terrorist attack five years ago. It must be solved as quickly as possible.”
Hanau Mayor Claus Kaminsky also condemned the act. “Especially in our city, which was deeply affected by the racist attack on Feb. 19, 2020, such an act causes deep consternation,” he said. According to the German news agency DPA, the city has filed a criminal complaint. “What happened here crosses every boundary of decency and humanity,” Kaminsky added. “Swastikas have no place in Hanau. We will not allow such symbols to sow fear or division.”