A 33-year-old German man wanted in connection with a shooting that left a victim critically injured in Cologne has been arrested in Budapest, following close cooperation between Hungarian and German law enforcement authorities.

The suspect, identified only by the initials K. M. A., had been the subject of a European Arrest Warrant after allegedly opening fire on a man in the German city on 31 May before fleeing the country.

Tracked down in Budapest

According to the Hungarian police, German investigators alerted Hungary’s National Bureau of Investigation (KR NNI) through the International Law Enforcement Cooperation Centre (NEBEK) on 10 June, after receiving information suggesting the suspect could be hiding in Budapest.

Hungarian investigators quickly launched an operation to locate the man, who was considered highly dangerous. Officers from the Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK) joined the mission due to the potential risk posed by the suspect. Police said the fugitive was located and arrested within five hours of the German notification in Budapest’s 8th district.

Wanted over Cologne shooting

German authorities suspect the man of carrying out a shooting in the early hours of 31 May in Cologne’s Neustadt-Süd district. According to German investigators, a 32-year-old pedestrian was shot several times from a passing vehicle shortly before 4:30 AM.

The victim suffered life-threatening injuries and required emergency surgery.

The suspect allegedly fled immediately after the attack, prompting German authorities to launch a major manhunt and issue a European Arrest Warrant.

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Extradition proceedings underway

Following his arrest, the suspect was taken to the 8th District Police Station in Budapest. Hungary’s NEBEK is now coordinating the international legal procedures required for his extradition to Germany, including liaising with the relevant judicial authorities.

Watch the video of the arrest (you might need to open YouTube because this video is age-restricted):

Hungarian pensioner was shot dead near Budapest in May

Just two months ago, a 72-year-old Hungarian pensioner fired first at agents of the Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK) in Monor, a town near Budapest. TEK-agents returned fire and shot the old man dead.

Police were called on Monday afternoon to a 72-year-old man in Monor following several reports from residents of his disturbed and aggressive behaviour; upon arrival, officers were threatened with a knife.

Officers from the Monor Police Department requested the assistance of Hungary’s Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK), whose personnel arrived at the scene in significant numbers and attempted to negotiate with the man. He, however, proved uncooperative and failed to respond to repeated instructions.

The man subsequently leaned out of a window and fired twice at officers attempting to communicate with him, using what appeared to be a handgun, before discharging further shots in the direction of supporting officers and a residential building behind them.

Read more here: Hungarian pensioner shot dead near Budapest – photo