Top News
German court hands 14-year prison sentence to Borussia Dortmund bus bomber
Berlin, Nov 27 (IANS) A German court on Tuesday awarded a 14-year prison sentence to the perpetrator of a shrapnel bomb attack on the Borussia Dortmund football team bus that injured Spanish international defender Marc Bartra and a police officer.
The Russian-born German 29-year-old Sergej Wenergold was found guilty on 28 counts of attempted murder by a Dortmund district court, reports Efe news.
Wenergold had planned the attack in the expectation that he would profit financially by betting that the club’s stock market value would plunge, the prosecutor had argued in court.
The bomb detonated as the Borussia team was heading to the stadium to play the 2017 Champions League quarter-finals against Monaco.
Wenergold placed the homemade bomb on the bus before it began its scheduled route and then remotely detonated it, something he confessed during the court hearings.
The prison term was shorter than the life sentence requested by the state prosecutor for the author of the April 2017 attack.
The prosecutor said Wenergold had intended “to cause the greatest damage possible” and had pondered on the possibility of causing death and injury.
The attack provoked an uproar in Germany including speculation that it could have been a terror attack, until Wenergold’s arrest 10 days after the event.
The Champion’s League match had to be delayed one day which also provoked acrimony between the club’s executive board and trainer, Thomas Tuchel, who left the team after the season ended.
Bartra required hospitalisation and a long convalescence period, while other players had to receive psychological assistance.
Wenergold was born in Russia and arrived in Germany with his family in 2003 where he lived in the southwest and worked as an electrician on a monthly wage of 3,900 euros ($4,400), according to the prosecutor.
Prior to the attack, he had invested 44,300 euros ($50,006), betting on a share price drop of the only Bundesliga team quoted in the German stock exchange.
–IANS
tri/bg
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.