Kehl: Probe after cannabis odor at border

At the Europabrücke bridge in Kehl, a dramatic incident occurred during a border entry check on Friday night. After an initial incident, officers from the Offenburg Criminal Police took over the further investigation. In a second follow-up report, police reassess the sequence of events based on initial interviews and the evaluation of video and image material, and provide insight into the search for a passenger who is still at large.

Check at the border

The Europabrücke connects Kehl with Strasbourg and is one of the most important crossings in the Upper Rhine region. Especially at night, checks are a central tool for Federal Police to detect drug transports and unlawful imports early. Shortly after midnight, a Renault Clio traveling from France to Germany was reportedly stopped at the entry control. Officers had directed the driver into the checkpoint with stop signals.

According to investigators, control personnel detected the smell of cannabis inside the vehicle. This odor cue apparently prompted a more thorough inspection of the car. When officers intended to examine the vehicle more closely, the driver allegedly did not remain stationary as instructed but accelerated. Within minutes, this started a chain of events that escalated into a high-risk pursuit.

Instead of continuing the check, the driver reportedly drove at high speed on Strasbourg Street back toward France. At the same time, several deployed Federal Police officers tried to stop the vehicle. Five officers reportedly crossed the tram tracks in between to reach the other side of the road in order to bring the 21-year-old to a halt on the roadway toward France.

Flight, attack, and shots fired

The Clio driver allegedly ignored stop signals and drove toward the uniformed officers. A similar dynamic had occurred earlier: the Renault driver had accelerated and steered directly at police officers, who had to dodge to avoid being hit. He then turned around and fled on Strasbourg Street toward France.

Again, two uniformed officers stood on the roadway and tried to stop the fleeing driver. The Clio driver allegedly accelerated once more and drove deliberately toward the officers. Two Federal Police officers then drew their service weapons and fired shots toward the Renault. At the same time, they had to dodge the vehicle to avoid a collision. Another officer also tried a third time to stop the man before the border to France and jumped aside as well.

According to police, the bodywork of a nearby vehicle was also damaged by gunfire. For residents and commuters, the incident initially caused uncertainty: gunfire on a busy border route is rare and immediately raises questions about the threat level. The 21-year-old himself was not injured by the shots but sustained minor injuries during the later arrest. Pursuing Federal Police officers found the Renault parked on French territory and observed two men fleeing the car on foot.

The situation shows how quickly a check based on suspected narcotics can turn into an operation involving firearms when a driver ignores stop signals and drives toward officers. Police stress in their report that officers had to dodge several times to avoid being hit.

Arrest and ongoing investigation

The suspected driver was located and provisionally arrested. He is currently in custody in France. The Offenburg public prosecutor's office obtained a European arrest warrant against the French national for attempted homicide. Through a mutual legal assistance request, German authorities are coordinating further measures with French agencies.

Investigations concerning the passenger in the Renault are ongoing. He has not yet been located. According to initial findings, the second person may be a 20-year-old man, for whom an identity document was found in the vehicle. Whether this man is actually the fugitive and whether he was injured remains unclear. Criminal police are also evaluating video and image material to clarify the sequence of actions and any further participants.

For the public prosecutor's office, alongside the drug suspicion, the criminal assessment of the driving behavior is paramount. The European arrest warrant for attempted homicide underscores that authorities do not treat the incident as a mere traffic offense but as a serious attack on officers.

Forensics and seizure

On Friday morning, emergency services searched the scene for traces. From 8 a.m., tram traffic was blocked, as was outbound traffic on federal road B28 toward France. Commuters were rerouted; outbound traffic toward France was initially diverted via Hafenstraße. The Renault Clio was seized and towed for forensic measures. Experts can secure residues and odor traces on the vehicle relevant to whether narcotics were transported.

Tram service has since resumed, and traffic on the B28 toward France is again running on one lane. Nevertheless, the border region remains in investigators' focus in the coming days because the passenger still being sought keeps the case open.

Context for drug enforcement

The incident is linked to a border check during which officers noticed a cannabis odor. The report does not state specific quantities of narcotics seized. Nevertheless, police connect the breakthrough at the Europabrücke directly with suspicion of drug offenses and a dangerous escape from control.

• Entry control at the Europabrücke in Kehl on Friday night
• Cannabis odor in the Renault Clio, subsequent flight toward France
• Shots fired by Federal Police, arrest of the 21-year-old driver in France
• Investigation by Offenburg Criminal Police, passenger still sought

Questions about the incident may be directed to the Offenburg Police Headquarters via the contact channels listed in the press releases. For emergencies and current operations, the authority refers callers to emergency number 110.