Bangladeshi Man Arrested in Switzerland After Dismembered Body Found Near Rhine River

Police in Switzerland have arrested a Bangladeshi national after the dismembered body of a man was discovered along the Rhine River in Stein, in the canton of Aargau. The suspect was reportedly the victim’s roommate.

The information was published in a report by Swiss news outlet Blue News on Friday, October 30.

The victim, a 33-year-old Burundian national, had previously been reported missing. In a statement, Aargau cantonal police said a 43-year-old Bangladeshi man had been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the case.

Police said acquaintances reported the victim missing on October 24. The following day, the same people discovered human remains along the Rhine River. The shelter where the victim had been living was located not far from the site where the remains were found.

According to the report, the victim’s body had been cut into several pieces. The remains were placed in rubbish bags and discarded in the Rhine River and along its banks. The Institute of Forensic Medicine identified the remains as belonging to the missing 33-year-old man.

The unusual nature of the crime and the behaviour of some residents at the nearby shelter raised suspicions among investigators. Aargau cantonal police subsequently searched the shelter, the site where the remains were discovered and the surrounding area with the assistance of specialists.

Evidence seized during the investigation strengthened suspicions against a 43-year-old Bangladeshi man who had shared a room with the victim at the shelter. He was arrested on the evening of October 27.

The Rheinfelden-Laufenburg District Attorney’s Office has opened a criminal investigation on suspicion of murder and has applied for the suspect to be held in pre-trial detention. However, the precise sequence of events and the motive behind the killing remain unclear.

Investigators said there is currently no evidence linking the crime to political or religious motives. During the investigation, the suspect reportedly showed signs of mental health problems. Authorities are examining whether those issues had any connection to the crime.

The arrested man must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty through the judicial process.