Iranian refugee arrested over ‘killing’ of German teacher

Police detain 39-year-old suspect over the death of a language teacher who worked as volunteer at an asylum seeker accommodation centre

An Iranian refugee has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of killing his teacher, who was described as being “like a mama” to asylum seekers.
Police said the body of Isabelle D, who has not been fully named under German privacy laws, was discovered by walkers near the River Neckar in the southern town of Nürtingen on Oct 20, just a few metres from her apartment.
They have since arrested a 39-year-old refugee on suspicion of killing Isabelle, who was reportedly the man’s German teacher.
Isabelle, 66, was also a fierce opponent of the Iranian regime, and frequently posted on social media about women there being forced to wear the hijab.
According to Bild, a German newspaper, Isabelle was a well-known teacher and volunteer at the Oberboihingen asylum seeker accommodation centre, where residents described her as “like a mama”.
She is said to have helped the asylum seekers with language lessons, encouragement and field trips, including to the production house of a local newspaper.
Police have given no further details on the circumstances of Isabelle’s death, while the suspect refused to speak after being arrested and remains in custody.
Asylum seekers in the Oberboihingen centre appear to have disliked the suspect, describing him as anti-social and trying to borrow money.
“The Iranian was constantly starting arguments with the other residents in the accommodation,” one refugee told Bild. “He wanted money and tried to borrow money from me. Because I was the last person to speak to him on the phone, the police confiscated my cell phone [after the discovery of Isabelle’s death].”
The suspect was also a violin player and earnt money from making and repairing instruments, according to media reports.
Refugee crime has become a major political issue in Germany following a terrorist attack over the summer in Solingen, western Germany, where a Syrian asylum seeker stabbed three people to death at a music festival.
Germany’s government has since imposed passport checks at all of its land borders to increase its control over who is allowed to enter the country.
The Telegraph also revealed earlier in October that German ministers are seeking approval from the EU to increase the number of asylum seekers they can detain in transit zones in airports, instead of allowing them straight into the country.