German cashier slain over mask

BERLIN — German politicians expressed shock Tuesday over the killing of a 20-year old petrol station worker after an argument about a face mask and said that coronavirus deniers who are willing to use violence won't be tolerated.

The killing Saturday night in the western town of Idar-oberstein has hit the national headlines as it's one of the only such cases linked to COVID-19 restrictions.

Prosecutors have said that the petrol station cashier had asked a 49-year old man who wanted to buy beer to comply with the rules and put on a mask.

The customer refused and left but returned later wearing a mask, which he pulled down when he approached the cashier who again referred to the rules.

“Then the perpetrator pulled a revolver and shot the cashier in the head ...,” prosecutor Kai Fuhrmann told reporters.

The suspect later gave himself up at a police station, saying the coronavirus measures were causing him stress, said Furhmann.

He was detained.

The killing took place a week before a federal election in which the far-right AFD has tried to woo voters with an antilockdown and anti-vaccine campaign.