Germany news: Police still to identify Stade attack victims

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has unveiled a portrait of herself which will be added to the federal government's official gallery of past leaders.

The portrait shows Merkel in one of her signature blazers, this one a vibrant blue, in front of a golden background and gazing off into the distance.

For the work, Merkel selected a previously little-known artist, Jeremie Queyras, who was born in Paris in 1997 and raised in Freiburg.

Read the full story here.

A German court on Tuesday evening issued a pre-trial detention warrant for a 45-year-old man in connection with a mass shooting which left six people dead in the northern city of Stade on Monday.

The man was detained at the scene but, under German law, police require such a warrant in order to continue to hold a suspect in custody beyond the end of the following day.

Prosecutors intend to charge the suspect with six counts of murder on account of the "malicious" nature of his actions and the "base" motives behind them.

The man is suspected of opening fire at a mother-and-child care meeting attended by youth welfare officers and social workers.

"During a care planning meeting attended by several staff members … he allegedly suddenly fired the firearm he had brought with him at the staff members with the intent to kill them," read a statement.

Five of the victims died at the scene while a fifth later succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

According to current police information, the incident likely stems from a dispute over child custody rights. The suspect had an appointment at the facility regarding custody of his three-month-old daughter. The child and her 34-year-old mother were unharmed during the incident.

Investigators are yet to disclose the nature of the weapon involved or how the suspect allegedly obtained it. According to the authorities, he was not in possession of a firearms license.

Germany and the Netherlands are taking charge of NATO forces on part of Europe's eastern flank.

One week ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, the two countries are setting up a new alliance headquarters for Estonia and Latvia to coordinate military exercises and, in a crisis, oversee their defense.

Germany and the Netherlands are also taking over NATO command of Estonian and Latvian ground forces – a move designed to boost military deterrence in the region.

"Deterrence is our best defense," said Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius, speaking in the Estonian town of Valga on the Latvian border. 

"It also shows our enemy — or our enemies, if you will — that we are strong and well-prepared together, and that it would be pointless to even start a war."

Most of the German-Dutch unit will remain at the multinational NATO headquarters in Münster in western Germany. In an emergency, however, parts of the new HQ could be deployed to the eastern flank — along with up to tens of thousands of international troops.

Up to now, the multinational NATO HQ in Szczecin, Poland, was responsible for the entire Baltic region and northern Poland. The defense of northern Poland and Lithuania will continue to be coordinated from Szczecin, while the HQ in Münster will take charge of Estonia and Latvia. The split is a response to rising tensions in the region. It's also intended to be better tailored to specific territorial needs.

"This shows that we are ready to take on greater responsibility for Europe's security," said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at the handover ceremony in Valga, adding that the German-Netherlands Corps (1 GNC) represented a further step toward military integration in Europe.

The decision to expand Germany's presence on the eastern flank comes on the back of criticism from the United States, which has repeatedly threatened to review its troop presence in Europe.

The German Football Federation (DFB) said it would make a decision in the coming days regarding the future of head coach Julian Nagelsmann.

"In ​the coming days, we will calmly examine the reasons why the team was unable to realize ​its potential and failed to meet both its own expectations and ​those of ‌the German football community," DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said in a statement.

"After such a crushing blow, we cannot and will not simply return to business as usual as ‌we look toward the tasks ahead."

Nagelsmann, who took over ​in September 2023 and whose contract runs until 2028, said after Germany's first ever World Cup penalty shootout defeat that he would like to stay on but that it was no longer in his hands.

"I met at length yesterday ​with Julian ⁠Nagelsmann and the sporting leadership team, including [national team director] Rudi Völler," said Neuendorf. "We agree that our performance ⁠at the World Cup ​fell short of our standards."

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has congratulated Paraguay following their historic penalty shootout win over Germany at the World Cup on Monday.

"It was a very disappointing result for us but that's sport, sport is competition, and Paraguay were the better team," he said in the Paraguayan capital, Asuncion, where, by sheer coincidence, he arrived ahead of the Mercosur economic summit on Tuesday.

"Of course I'm sad, as I'm sure out players are and indeed the whole country, but it's also right to congratulate the winners," he added. "Paraguay is celebrating and there's even been a bank holiday which shows the meaning of sport for the people here."

Indeed, Paraguay's president, Santiago Pena, had declared Tuesday a national holiday to honor the prestigious victory which was wildly celebrated across the South American country.

"Paraguay did what we do best: we defended with our soul throughout the entire game and even in extra time!" one fan, bank employee Amado, told the AFP news agency on the streets of Asuncion.

"It's part of our identity to compete in this way, part of how we understand football," added Luis, who works at a hotel in the capital.

"We knocked out the four-times world champions and showed that we can beat the best with organization, sacrifice and enormous team spirit. It was a night which will remain in the memory of the Paraguayan people forever."

Wildfires have burned well above average areas of forest in Germany last year, official data shows.

The Federal Office for Agriculture and Food said 2,626 hectares (about 6,500 acres) were lost in 2025, more than three times the long-term average of 844 hectares.

A major blaze on Gohrischheide, a heathland and nature reserve in the eastern state of Saxony, accounted for much of the damage, destroying 1,867 hectares alone.

Despite the spike in burned area, the number of fires — 1,175 — was broadly in line with the long-term average, though about double the 2024 figure, when heavy rain limited outbreaks.

Officials estimate that around one in five fires was deliberately started.

Only three years since 1991 have seen more forest destroyed by fire than 2025.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has confirmed he has ended his international career following Germany's World Cup exit.

The 40-year-old said the last-32 defeat to Paraguay was his final match, calling it "extremely bitter to finish in this way."

Neuer had previously stepped away after Euro 2024 but was recalled by coach Julian Nagelsmann and returned as first choice.

He played all four matches at the tournament, bringing his total to 128 caps, but did not keep a clean sheet as Germany exited on penalties.

Neuer will now return to Bayern Munich, where he remains under contract for another season.

Germany's rail regulator has ordered national operator Deutsche Bahn to open up key long-distance routes to competitors.

The Federal Network Agency said infrastructure unit DB InfraGo must allocate 25% to 40% of capacity on heavily used lines to rival operators.

The move is aimed at boosting competition and lowering ticket prices, with authorities arguing passengers will benefit from more choice.

Italian operator Italo, which plans to enter the German market in 2028, had pushed for the change. It aims to run frequent services on lucrative routes linking major cities such as Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg.

Regulator chief Klaus Müller said the rule would guarantee a minimum level of access for companies investing in new trains.

Germany's long-distance market is currently dominated by Deutsche Bahn, which has warned the measure could threaten services in less profitable regions by cutting revenue from high-speed routes.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has praised the national team after their World Cup exit, garnering criticism online.

"Even though the elimination hurts: What a game," Merz wrote on X.

"With your dedication and team spirit at this World Cup, you've inspired our country. We're proud of you."

The comments triggered widespread backlash, with critics questioning his upbeat tone after the last-32 loss on penalties to Paraguay.

The Bild newspaper accused Merz of making "a fool of himself," while FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann said she was unsure "which was worse," the match or the analysis.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) also mocked the chancellor's remarks.

Merz later doubled down, saying the country should stand by the team in defeat as well as success.

Germany have now exited early from three consecutive World Cups, though they reached the knockout stage this time after group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022.

Germany’s inflation outlook has shown signs of easing as companies scale back plans to raise prices.

The Institute for Economic Research (ifo) said its price expectations index fell for a second straight month in June to 26.4 points, indicating fewer firms intend to increase prices.

Economist Timo Wollmershäuser said the main wave of price hikes may have passed, helped by falling energy costs and hopes of stability in the Middle East.

However, he warned it was too early to declare victory, with producer and consumer prices still expected to rise in the coming months.

Price pressures eased most among energy-intensive firms, while declines were more modest in services, retail and manufacturing. Food producers also showed reduced pricing plans, though retail food price pressure remains elevated.

However, separate data from Germany's Federal Statistics Agency released Tuesday showed inflation slowed to 2.3% in June, down from 2.6% in May and 2.9% in April.

German authorities have arrested a Romanian national suspected of planning to overthrow his country’s government.

The suspect, identified as Nichita P., allegedly aimed to establish a Nazi-inspired regime in Bratislava.

Prosecutors said the suspect had been detained in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg and is accused of attempting to start a foreign terrorist organization.

According to German prosecutors, Nichita sought to build a right-wing extremist group aimed at launching a "war of terror" in Romania.

Investigators said he used messaging platforms to recruit followers, particularly targeting young people. He allegedly called for killings, arson attacks on buildings linked to migrants and LGBTQ+ people, and the spread of extremist propaganda.

He is also accused of sharing instructions on making poisons, explosives and car bombs, and of encouraging harmful behavior among minors.

Prosecutors said the suspect was partly still a minor at the time of the alleged offenses.

According to Germany's domestic security agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the country is facing growing threats from both homegrown extremists and foreign powers.

"Germany is under pressure," Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters at the presentation of the agency's annual report. "The opponents of our free democratic basic order come from both outside and within."

The minister said the risk of violence came from both the far right and the far left.

Dobrindt also pointed to sabotage and influence operations by foreign states, with the report identifying Russia as the main external threat.

The report notes that foreign powers carry out "sabotage operations, engage in illicit economic or political interference, ranging up to lethal operations, and spread disinformation."

Politically motivated crime hit a record high of 85,837 cases, with right-wing extremism accounting for the largest share, followed by left-wing offenses.

The report also highlighted antisemitism as a "central challenge," saying tensions linked to the Middle East conflict — intensified by the Iran war — are fueling threats to Jewish communities.

Former Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann has slammed the national team's latest World Cup exit as a "disaster."

He said the 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay after a 1-1 draw was "devastating" and "an embarrassment."

"This takes Germany into a huge, huge hole," he added.

"Everything, from the top to the bottom, needs to be questioned, needs to be discussed, and obviously there will be consequences to it, whatever those consequences are," the 61-year-old said.

He said the side lacked energy, decisiveness and aggression against a strong opponent.

Klinsmann said blame lies at all levels.

"It falls on everybody from the coaching staff to the federation to every single player that was called into this 26-man roster. "Everyone is part of this disaster."

Klinsmann was coach of the  German national team from 2004 to 2006 and led the team to third place during the 2006 World Cup.

German unemployment fell slightly in June, but the labor market showed little sign of a broader recovery, according to figures released by the Federal Employment Agency on Tuesday.

Compared to the previous month, Germany recorded 15,000 fewer unemployed people. In seasonally adjusted terms, however unemployment edged down by just 1,000.

"There is little sign of change in the labor market," agency head Andrea Nahles said.

Even so, the latest numbers were noticeably better than expected. Economists polled by the Reuters news agency had forecast an increase of 7,000 in the seasonally adjusted number of unemployed people.

An economist for the ING bank, Carsten Brzeski said the report offered "some positive news," but added that the recent downward trend on the labor market appeared to have paused rather than clearly ended or reversed.

Economists have warned that unemployment could rise again in the coming months, as companies often take time to respond to economic uncertainty and geopolitical shocks.

The identities of six people killed in a shooting at a youth welfare facility in the northern town of Stade have not yet been confirmed, police said.

Authorities said the victims, four women and two men, were all employees of a youth welfare center. 

Investigators believe the attack was likely linked to a custody dispute. The suspect, a 45-year-old man, had an appointment at the facility regarding his three-month-old daughter.

Emergency services found four victims dead at the scene, while one died during resuscitation efforts and another later in hospital. 

The suspect's child and her 34-year-old mother were not among the victims.

The alleged shooter, a German-born man with Turkish roots, was arrested shortly after the attack. A 65-year-old woman was also detained on suspicion of driving the getaway vehicle.

Lower Saxony Interior Minister Daniela Behrens described the incident, which took place roughly 30 kilometers (about 17 miles) west of Hamburg, as an isolated case and a "cold-blooded act of violence."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed condolences and said the events were "profoundly shocking."