2013 Menznau shooting
On 27 February 2013, a gunman opened fire at the Kronospan wood-processing plant in the Swiss town of Menznau, killing four people. Five others were wounded, two critically. The gunman died during a struggle where another worker defended himself by throwing a chair at the gunman, then grabbed with both arms the gunman, during the struggle the gunman shot himself, although it was not possible to determine whether intentionally or accidentally.[3]
2013 Menznau shooting | |
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Location | Menznau, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland |
Date | 27 February 2013 09:00 CET (UTC+01:00) |
Target | Staff from the Kronospan wood-processing plant |
Attack type | Spree shooting |
Weapons | Sphinx model AT380 sub-compact pistol |
Deaths | 5 (including the perpetrator)[1] |
Injured | 5 |
Perpetrator | Viktor Berisha[2] |
Shooting
The shooting, which took place at approximately 09:00 CET (08:00 UTC), occurred in the canteen area of the plant. The wounded were flown to two area hospitals for treatment.[4][5][6] Among the victims was Benno Studer (born 29 December 1986), a successful Swiss Wrestler active in competitions since 2007, with notable victories in 2010 and 2011.[7]
The gunman was identified as Viktor Berisha (in Swiss media mostly anonymized as "Viktor B."), aged 42, a Kosovar Albanian who had received asylum in Switzerland in 1991, and who had been convicted to a prison sentence for robbery in 1998. At some point after 2003, he was naturalized as a Swiss citizen. The weapon used by the perpetrator was a Sphinx Systems model AT380 sub-compact pistol, legally owned by Berisha's brother. Berisha was married and had three children.[8]
Victims
- Thomas M., 44, died on February 28
- Christina N., 47
- Hans S., 61, died on April 4[9]
- Benno Studer, 26
References
- "Four dead in Swiss gun attack". euronews. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- "Death toll in Swiss shooting rises to 4". Times Online. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- "So lief der Amoklauf von Menznau ab". 21 March 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- "Three dead in Swiss factory shooting". BBC News. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
- Smith-Spark, Laura; Morgenstein, Mark (27 February 2013). "Police: 3 dead, several wounded in Switzerland factory shooting". CNN. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
- Thomasson, Emma (27 February 2013). "Several killed in shooting at Swiss factory". Reuters. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
- Schock für die Schwingerfamilie - Benno Studer ist gestorben 27 February 2013.
- Polizei bestätigt: Vierte Person gestorben Blick, 28 February 2013. Amoklauf fordert viertes Todesopfer – Viktor B. verwendete keine Armeewaffe Aargauer Zeitung, 2 March 2013. Festnahme nach Amoklauf von Menznau – Täter hinterlässt Frau und drei Kinder Tages Anzeiger, 2 March 2013.
- Death toll from Swiss Menznau shooting rises to five, The Independent (April 5, 2013)