Railway employee falls from moving train – suspect back at large

The 36-year-old attacked the 26-year-old with punches and kicks, according to the public prosecutor's office. During the struggle, both repeatedly slammed into the train door and damaged it without noticing. When the security employee tried to pull the suspect, who was lying on the floor, back up, the man kicked forcefully at him. The 26-year-old fell to the ground, again against the door – which gave way. He fell through the gap from the moving train.

The employee was recovered a short time later with the most severe injuries and taken to a hospital. According to police and the public prosecutor's office, his condition is stable but remains critical. An expert has been commissioned by the public prosecutor's office to clarify why the door gave way; a timeline for results has not yet been set.

Investigation and condition of the victim

The public prosecutor's office had applied over the weekend for an arrest warrant against the 36-year-old on charges of dangerous bodily harm. The local court, however, rejected the application; no official reason was initially given. Following the provisional arrest on Friday evening, the man was released again.

According to the information, the suspect was intoxicated at the time of the crime and already has prior convictions for violent offenses. Last week, the 36-year-old was sentenced by the local court to ten years in prison for bodily harm resulting in death from an earlier crime, according to the investigation details.

Reactions from Deutsche Bahn and the unions

Deutsche Bahn responded on Saturday with dismay. A spokesperson said: "Wir verurteilen den Angriff am gestrigen Abend in einer Regionalbahn aufs Schärfste" and added: "Unsere Gedanken sind bei dem Verletzten." The company also announced that it would fully investigate the incident.

The Eisenbahn- und Verkehrsgewerkschaft (EVG) rail and transport union likewise expressed horror. State chairman Manuel Amberger stated, "dass verbale und körperliche Übergriffe auf das Zugpersonal eine neue, lebensgefährliche Dimension erreicht haben". He also said: "Dass erneut einer unserer Kollegen nach einer einfachen Fahrkartenkontrolle im Krankenhaus um sein Leben ringen muss, macht uns fassungslos und wütend."

Demands for political consequences

The Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivführer (GDL) train drivers' union struck a similar tone. GDL chief Mario Reiss told WDR: "Wir brauchen Entscheidungen der Justiz, wir brauchen Gesetzesänderungen und wir brauchen das Durchgriffsrecht". The situation for staff was unbearable, colleagues had to "jeden Tag mehr mit Angst auf Arbeit gehen".

Background: Violence against railway personnel

As recently as February, a railway employee died after being attacked by a passenger during a ticket inspection. Both unions see the accumulation of such incidents as a structural safety problem and are calling for, among other measures, a nationwide right to use physical force for security personnel on trains.

The public prosecutor's office announced that it would continue the investigation against the 36-year-old suspect in connection with the current incident, regardless of the pending decision on an arrest warrant. According to Deutsche Bahn, regional train services between Baden-Baden and Karlsruhe were affected by disruptions over the weekend, as the incident will remain the subject of internal review in the coming weeks.