Zug massacre

The Zug massacre took place on September 27, 2001 in the city of Zug (Canton of Zug, Switzerland) in the canton's parliament. Fourteen people were shot dead by Friedrich Leibacher, who killed himself shortly after the crime.^[1]

In the years before the massacre, Leibacher drew attention to himself by an intense use of lawsuits. These were dismissed, so he assumed he was being persecuted by the state, thus he felt he had to resort to the crime.^[2]

He was armed with a civilian version of a Stgw 90 (Swiss Army assault rifle),^[3] a SIG-Sauer-pistol, a pump-action shotgun, and a revolver, and he wore a home-made police vest. Leibacher was able to enter the parliament building without problem.^[4]

Attack

He started shooting in the hall where the members of parliament were meeting. He killed three members of the Executive Council ("Regierungsräte") and eleven members of the legislature ("Kantonsräte"), and wounded 18 politicians and journalists, some heavily. He fired 91 rounds. Then, he ignited a homemade bomb, and then took his own life.^[4] His main intended target was the Cantonal Minister Robert Bisig, who was unharmed. Leibacher left a suicide note titled "Tag des Zornes für die Zuger Mafia" ("Day of wrath for the Zug mafia"), which referenced his belief there was a plot against him.^[4]

This assault was the first of its type in Switzerland and one of the Canton of Zug's darkest days.^[5] Worldwide, especially in the European Union and in the German Bundestag, there was shock at the attack.

Aftereffects

Afterwards, many local parliaments increased their security or installed security measures. Some established a strict access control for visitors and security passes for the politicians and staff.

On the national level, the Sektion Sicherheit Parlamentsgebäude (section for the security of parliament buildings) was established as part of the Bundessicherheitsdienst (Federal Security Service), a police unit of 35, which secures the Bundeshaus in Bern. As part of a general electronic access control for visitors, access controls with x-ray machines were installed. Further, separate wings of the Bundeshaus were secured with gates, which have to be opened with a badge.

Many cantons and communities have compiled files of people who are considered Nörgler, Querulanten and Behördenhasser (nigglers, grumblers, haters of the administration), who have threatened people, filed lawsuits or bombard authorities with protest notes and who think they have been treated unfairly after the suits have been dismissed. Since the Zug massacre such people are watched closely. Mediation centres were founded in which the so-called Ombudsmänner try to mediate conflicts. Police stations became more sensitive to threats, with people making threats temporarily detained and their houses searched for weapons. When issuing weapon licenses, the application is closely examined, since Leibacher had been diagnosed with a paranoid personality disorder and "brain weakness" ("Gehirnschwäche"). He was able to legally buy the weapons although he had already threatened people, had been known as a grumbler and has had a report made against him.

Deaths

• Peter Bossard (Regierungsrat/Statthalter, FDP, Zug)
• Monika Hutter-Häfliger (Regierungsrätin, SP, Baar)
• Jean-Paul Flachsmann (Regierungsrat, CVP, Zug)
• Herbert Arnet (Kantonsratspräsident, CVP, Cham)
• Martin Döbeli (Kantonsrat, FDP, Zug)
• Dorly Heimgartner (Kantonsrätin, FDP, Zug)
• Kurt Nussbaumer (Kantonsrat, CVP, Oberägeri)
• Rolf Nussbaumer (Kantonsrat, CVP, Baar)
• Konrad Häusler (Kantonsrat, CVP, Unterägeri)
• Erich Iten (Kantonsrat, FDP, Unterägeri)
• Karl Gretener (Kantonsrat, CVP, Cham)
• Willi Wismer (Kantonsrat, CVP, Risch)
• Heinz Grüter (Kantonsrat, FDP, Baar)
• Käthi Langenegger (Kantonsrätin, CVP, Baar)
• Friedrich Leibacher (Spree killer, Zug)^[4]

See also

• Romanshorn shooting

External links

• Spree Killers

References