Indictment for attempted murder after riots at second-division match Magdeburg vs. Dresden

According to the prosecution's account, the 29-year-old participated in riots against law enforcement officers on January 24, 2026, during the match between 1. FC Magdeburg and Dynamo Dresden at the Avnet Arena. He is alleged to have thrown a roughly 15-kilogram paving stone at police officers in the police line from a short distance with full force. According to the public prosecutor's office, the stone hit an officer in the head and injured him.

The indictment accuses the defendant of having at least knowingly accepted that his throw could cause fatal injuries. This, it is argued, fulfills the elements of attempted murder. In total, more than 70 police officers were injured during the riots, according to investigators.

Political Reactions and Statements

In addition to throwing the paving stone, fans also threw barriers and manhole covers at police officers, according to the indictment. The violent clashes overshadowed the second-division match and made national headlines.

The Magdeburg public prosecutor's office justified the acceptance of the indictment by citing the weight and force of the throw, as well as the immediate proximity to the officers. The accused deliberately attacked police officers who were in an orderly operational situation.

Saxony-Anhalt's Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang (CDU) had sharply condemned the riots immediately after the match. She stated verbatim: "To strike police officers with a manhole cover and paving stones is nothing other than brutal violence."

Consequences for 1. FC Magdeburg and the DFB

The German Football Association (DFB) subsequently sanctioned 1. FC Magdeburg with a partial fan exclusion. In addition, the club was fined a total of 186,600 euros, according to the DFB. The club, in turn, announced several measures and expanded security precautions, including technical optimization of camera surveillance in the stadium vicinity.

The public prosecutor's office emphasized that investigations against further suspects from the ranks of the involved fan groups are ongoing. A date for the main hearing before the Magdeburg Regional Court has not yet been set.

The match itself was part of the 19th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. Following the riots, both 1. FC Magdeburg and the DFB had announced a thorough investigation. The responsible police directorate of Saxony-Anhalt also pointed to a high number of injured officers and announced consistent prosecution.

With the indictment for attempted murder, the public prosecutor's office is sending a clear signal: the judiciary considers the attack with the heavy paving stone on police officers a potential homicide, not merely a fringe phenomenon of a football match. A conviction in line with the indictment could result in a prison sentence of several years.

Legal experts view the combination of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, and assault on law enforcement officers as one of the most serious charges brought in the context of football riots in Germany to date. The upcoming hearing days before the Magdeburg Regional Court will therefore be followed with particular attention.