Tuesday's top story: Custody dispute suspected in fatal shooting at Stade care facility
A fatal shooting at a youth welfare facility in Stade has left six staff members dead, with investigators still working to establish key details about the incident.
The attack, which took place on Monday, is believed to have been carried out by a 45‑year‑old man during a visit linked to a custody dispute involving his three‑month‑old daughter.
Police arrested the suspect shortly after the shooting, but it remains unclear whether he will face an arrest warrant and pretrial detention as investigations continue. Authorities have not disclosed the type of weapon used or how it was obtained, though they confirmed the man did not possess a firearms licence.
Five victims died at the scene and a sixth later in hospital. All were employees of the facility. The child and her mother survived and are now under official care and protection.
Officials described the case as an isolated incident. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the killings had “shaken” the country, paying tribute to those who lost their lives while helping vulnerable families.
READ ALSO: Five dead and two arrested after shooting in northern German city
Germany crash out of World Cup after shootout loss to Paraguay
Germany’s World Cup struggles continued with a dramatic and disappointing exit to Paraguay, losing 4 – 3 on penalties after a 1 – 1 draw in Boston.
The result marks another major tournament failure, following group‑stage eliminations in 2018 and 2022, and raises fresh questions about the national team’s future.
Kai Havertz rescued Germany during normal time with a second‑half equaliser, but later missed in the shootout, symbolising a night of missed opportunities. A controversial VAR decision in extra time also proved pivotal, with Jonathan Tah’s apparent winner ruled out for a disputed foul.
Germany conceded first after struggling to cope with Paraguay’s physical, defensive approach. While chances improved after the break, a lack of cutting edge persisted.
The penalty shootout encapsulated the team’s fragility, with several missed efforts ultimately sealing their fate. Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer announced it was his final international match.
In Monday’s other games, Brazil beat Japan 2 – 1 after initially falling behind and the Netherlands lost to Morocco, also on penalties.
READ ALSO: What's on in Germany - Ten unmissable events in July 2026
Record heat in Germany gives way to storms
Germany’s searing late‑June heatwave has been followed by a sharp change in conditions, with cooler temperatures and the threat of severe thunderstorms sweeping across the country.
After a weekend that saw a provisional national high of 41.7C recorded in Brandenburg, meteorologists now warn of heavy rain, hail and strong winds, particularly from the southeast through central regions.
The German Weather Service (DWD) confirmed that June 2026 was the second‑warmest on record, with an average temperature of 19.5C, while rainfall was significantly below normal and unevenly distributed. Sunshine levels were notably higher than average.
The extreme heat has also had deadly consequences. The German Life‑Saving Association reported at least 26 drowning deaths over the weekend alone, predominantly involving men and boys, citing risk‑taking behaviour and alcohol use.
Meanwhile, storms have already disrupted travel, forcing temporary shutdowns at Frankfurt Airport and leading to dozens of flight cancellations.
Experts say such heat extremes would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change, warning that Germany is experiencing faster‑than‑average warming and increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
READ ALSO: Wildfires and cancelled transport - How record-breaking high temperatures hit Germany
Green party calls Germany's heat preparedness a 'total failure'
Following the heatwave, a nationwide debate around Germany's heat preparedness (or lack thereof) has begun.
Under the heat motorways buckled, tar around train tracks melted and emergency services faced enormous strain as people in care homes and hospitals without air conditioning needed medical attention.
Mobility researcher Andreas Knie says that Germany's infrastructure is not prepared for the reality of a warming world. "The asphalt is not designed for these temperatures," he told Tagesschau, adding that this also applies to airport runways.
So far members of the federal government have been largely silent about the heatwave.
Germany's Green party, however, out the topic of heat protection on the agenda of the Bundestag last week. They called the government's response a "total failure".
Green party group leader Katharina Dröge is now calling on the government to implement an immediate program: "The most important thing would be to better protect old people and children."
Among her demands are calls to implement air conditioning in care facilities, hospitals and schools.
READ ALSO: RANKED - The best German cities to be in during a heatwave
Far-right rally in Berlin raises political temperature
Police enforced strict security Monday for a rally in Berlin by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of an election in the capital in September.
Police said about 450 people attended the rally in front of Berlin City Hall. About 200 people waving German and LGBTQ flags took part in a counter-demonstration nearby, with police separating the two groups.
"You can clearly see how Berlin is becoming increasingly dysfunctional, dirty and unreliable," AfD candidate for mayor Kristin Brinker told the crowd.
The counter demonstrators meanwhile chanted, "Everyone in Berlin hates the AfD".
Since 2023, Berlin has been run by a conservative Christian Democrat (CDU) Kai Wegner in coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). The SPD had previously controlled the city for 20 years.
Opinion polls suggest the far-right AfD could double its 2023 score to about 18 percent of the vote in September. At the rally, Brinker attacked what she called the "extreme left terrorism" that "endangers the lives of Berliners".
READ ALSO: Germany's CDU slammed for 'empowering AfD' with plan for deportation centres
With reporting by AFP, DPA and Paul Krantz.
Comments