A 36-year-old Turkish-born train conductor has died following a brutal assault by a 26-year-old Greek national during a routine ticket inspection in southwestern Germany.
An autopsy performed on Wednesday confirmed that the victim, identified as Serkan, died from brain hemorrhaging caused by repeated blows to the head.
The incident occurred on Monday, February 2, 2026 on a train near the town of Landstuhl. According to investigators, the confrontation began when Serkan, a 15-year veteran of Deutsche Bahn, requested to see the 26-year-old Greek passenger’s ticket. The suspect reportedly responded with extreme violence, launching a savage physical attack that left the conductor unconscious and bleeding.
A family shattered
Serkan, who lived in Ludwigshafen, was a single father raising two sons, aged 11 and 13. The boys reportedly remained by their father’s side in the hospital while he lay in a coma, hoping for a recovery. He succumbed to his injuries a day after the attack.
The victim’s family expressed their devastation, stating they cannot comprehend how a dedicated worker could be lost so “cruelly and unjustly” during the workday.
Legal action and investigation
German authorities launched a swift manhunt following the assault and successfully apprehended the 26-year-old suspect. Preliminary background checks indicate the Greek national had no prior criminal record with authorities.
The Saarbrücken Prosecutor’s Office has since charged the suspect with negligent homicide. Following his initial testimony, he was ordered to be held in custody pending trial. The killing has sparked fresh debate regarding the safety of transport workers in Germany. Colleagues of the deceased noted that while verbal disputes are common, the level of violence in this specific encounter has sent shockwaves through the railway industry.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on the motive behind the escalation and the tragic reality of a single-parent household now left without a father.
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