Who Was Torsten O.?

Torsten O. is one of the most notorious serial killers in German history. The Hamburg-based man terrorized the port city between 1992 and 1997 with a series of brutal murders that filled the public with fear and dread. His violent methods and practice of dissolving his victims in sulfuric acid earned him the nickname "Acid Barrel Killer" and defined an entire era of German criminal history.

The Murders and the Pattern

Torsten O. killed at least ten people, with some victims never fully identified. His victims were predominantly socially marginalized individuals — the homeless, drug addicts, and prostitutes — whom he deliberately selected because they received little attention from society. This choice of victims made investigations particularly difficult and significantly delayed the discovery of his crimes.

The killer's approach was systematic and horrifying: he lured his victims to his home, killed them, and dissolved the remains in large containers filled with sulfuric acid. This gruesome method was intended to erase evidence and make identification impossible. In some cases, he kept the acid-dissolved remains in barrels for days before disposing of them.

The Investigation and Arrest

Hamburg police took years to solve the case. The breakthrough came when a series of suspicious deaths and the disappearance of multiple persons revealed a pattern. Neighbors reported strange odors and nocturnal activities in Torsten O.'s apartment. When investigators finally conducted a raid, they discovered evidence that exposed his double life.