A group of seven young men beat to death a firefighter in front of his wife and another couple after they visited Augsburg's Christmas market. The murder has shocked the city and the wider state of Bavaria.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Puchner
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Police in southern Germany on Sunday arrested suspects in the murder of a 49-year-old firefighter, whose death has shaken Bavaria.
The firefighter was with his wife and another couple when they were attacked by a group of seven young men on Friday night after leaving a Christmas market in the city of Augsburg.
Police reported the victim was fatally struck on the head following a dispute with the group that also left the firefighter's male friend badly injured. Both women were unharmed.
Bavarian authorities said Sunday two suspects had been arrested following an investigation and a large-scale manhunt.
10 enchanting Christmas markets in Europe
Even though the tradition of Christmas markets has its origins in the German-speaking world, they have long been a feature all over Europe. Here you can get into the spirit for the most festive time of the year.
Image: picture-alliance/imagebroker/J. Woodhouse
Vienna, Austria
Do you want to walk around the Christkindlmarkt? Why not try another way: On a 3,000 square meter (32,291 square feet) ice rink, visitors glide through the park, past light installations and sales stands. The first Christmas market ever was mentioned in 1296, it was the so-called December market in Vienna.
Image: Stadt Wien Marketing
Prague, Czech Republic
A mighty Christmas tree with thousands of lights makes the Christmas market at the old town square impressive. Czech cuisine and arts and crafts are very much in demand here. The small stalls sell hearty dumplings, glass ornaments and wooden toys.
Image: picture-alliance/imagebroker/V. Wolf
Strasbourg, France
The Strasbourg Christmas market is spread over 12 locations in the town center. So the city justifiably calls itself the "Christmas Capital". The Strasbourg Christmas market was first mentioned in 1570, making it the oldest in France.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/P. Hertzog
Moscow, Russia
The people of Strasbourg also took their tradition to Moscow: they opened the first Christmas market in the Russian capital in 2012. The success was so great that today there are several markets in the city center.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/C. Thiele
Gothenburg, Sweden
Five million lights sparkle in Sweden's largest Christmas market, located in Gothenburg, in the Liseberg amusement park. Scandinavian handicrafts and design, as well as Swedish specialties, are sold here. Polkagris, for example, are red and white peppermint sticks. And of course, Glögg, mulled wine refined with almonds and raisins.
Image: Gören Assner
Maastricht, The Netherlands
The Vrijthof is situated in the heart of the medieval old town of Maastricht. The square provides the perfect backdrop for the Maastricht Christmas market. Attractions are the Ferris wheel, the artificial ice rink and a walk-in Christmas bauble. After a refreshment of hot cocoa and Limburg waffles, the surrounding alleys await you on a Christmas stroll.
Image: NBTC
London, Great Britain
The attractions at the Winter Wonderland in London's Hyde Park include snow and ice sculptures that take you on a journey back in time to 19th century London and depict "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. There are also ice-skating shows, circus performances and lots of merry-go-rounds and rides.
Image: picture-alliance/empics/M. Alexander
Edinburgh, Scotland
German grilled sausages, Belgian waffles, French crêpes — all this is available at the European Market on Princes Street in the heart of Edinburgh. The stalls, light installations and merry-go-rounds not only stretch along the street, but also down into the park.
Image: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0/Ross G. Strachan
Zagreb, Croatia
The Croatian capital is transformed into a Christmas wonderland that stretches across several squares in the city center. At the Advent market in Zrinjevac Park, the stalls line up along an avenue of 220 illuminated plane trees. The hustle and bustle of the market traditionally begins on the first of Advent with the placing of a huge Advent wreath on Zagreb's main square.
Image: europeanbestdestinations.com
Berlin, Germany
The Christmas market at the Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most atmospheric in Berlin. Embedded in the historical backdrop of the Schauspielhaus Theater, and the German and French Cathedrals, craftsmen and artists offer their wares in the white marquees. There are no rides, but there is a daily stage program that creates a romantic Christmas atmosphere.
Image: picture-alliance/imagebroker/J. Woodhouse
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Police identified the prime suspect as a 17-year-old resident of Augsburg with "multiple nationalities." The second arrest was of 17-year-old born in Augsburg with a southern European nationality.
They were working to identify other members of the group using video footage from the scene.
On Sunday, more than 100 firefighters in the city gathered at the site of the crime to honor their colleague.
Echoing similar feelings across Bavaria, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer expressed anger and disbelief that the firefighter was killed.
"What has really upset me is that a peaceable citizen was killed in Augsburg, simply beaten to death," Seehofer said in a television interview on Sunday.
