Hitman Attacked Police Station, Killed Three and Took His Own Life
On April 1, 1986, contract killer Werner Pinzner stormed Hamburg's main police station disguised as an officer, unleashing one of Germany's most shocking attacks on law enforcement.
Quick Facts
From Welder to Hamburg's Most Feared Contract Killer
Werner Pinzner lived a double life in ways few others have. By day he worked as a welder and carpenter. By night he became one of Hamburg's underworld's most sought-after assassins.
Since the 1970s, Pinzner had killed at least 12 people on behalf of drug gangs and organized crime syndicates. His weapon of choice was a specially modified .22-caliber rifle with a silencer—a selection that earned him the nickname "the silent killer" because the weapon was quiet and left few traces.
Among his victims were prominent figures like drug boss Hans-Günter Peine, whom Pinzner shot in 1980, and drug dealer Uwe Prell, killed in 1983. His primary handler was Peter Bertram, known as "Kiekeberg-Bertram," an influential figure in Hamburg's underworld. Pinzner operated methodically, avoided leaving evidence, and was never convicted for these murders.