Explosive retaliation: Drug war shakes Cologne-Kalk!

Explosive retaliation: Drug war shakes Cologne-Kalk!

On Thursday morning, an explosion rocked a restaurant in Cologne-Kalk and left a scene of devastation. As Tag24 reports, fortunately no one was injured in the detonation, but there was considerable material damage. The public prosecutor's office is now investigating whether there is a connection to the brutal clashes between drug gangs that have characterized the Cologne underworld for years.

A particularly explosive detail is that the restaurant owner's son, a 23-year-old, is considered a key figure in the so-called Cologne drug war and is currently in custody. He is suspected of having founded a drug gang that deals in drugs on a large scale nationwide. The background is disputes that were triggered by the robbery of 350 kilograms of marijuana from a warehouse, which led to a dangerous spiral of violence that resulted in explosions, shots and torture.

A dangerous environment

The drug crime situation in Cologne is becoming a serious threat. According to Tagesschau, shots, explosions, kidnappings and hostage-taking are not just isolated cases, but the logical consequence of an escalation of violence among drug traffickers. Investigations have shown that the Dutch “Mocro Mafia” is only peripherally involved in the disputes; Rather, the conflicts arise less from international entanglements than from rival gangs in Cologne.

The public prosecutor's office has already initiated several legal proceedings against the accused at the Cologne regional court. Among the 35 accused are numerous men who do not come from the Netherlands. The Kalk district is often mentioned in the investigations and appears to be the center of these criminal activities.

Police increase presence

The Cologne police are keeping a close eye on the situation and are talking about a new dimension of violence. Welt reports an increased use of explosives and submachine guns by the gangs. This extreme willingness to use violence led to complicated hostage situations in which the police were finally able to intervene. The threat situation is acute, and criminal director Michael Esser warns of possible acts of revenge among the gang members - an “elephant brain” just waiting to strike.

Police are currently looking for two men who fled the scene after the recent explosion. Whether they are suspects or simply witnesses remains unclear for the time being. There are also positive reports about the situation: There have been no explosions in Cologne for a few weeks, which may indicate that the masterminds of the Kalk gang are temporarily in custody. But the situation remains tense because drug-related crime in the region has the potential to escalate again at any time.