School in crisis: alarms and a fight raise questions at Burger School

The school center in Ludwigshafen-Mundenheim has recorded 16 police or fire service deployments so far this year, according to the city administration. Thirteen involved false alarms from the shared fire detection system used by the Karolina-Burger-Realschule plus and the Heinrich-Böll-Gymnasium.

Fire service deployments are generally free, a city spokeswoman told dpa. But anyone identified as deliberately triggering a false alarm can receive a bill for €1,389.56 from the Ludwigshafen fire service. The charge follows the relevant laws and municipal regulations.

The police are also investigating an alleged assault and threat on school grounds. A 14-year-old allegedly hit and threatened another student of the same age at the end of August. After complaints were filed, both teenagers were handed over to their legal guardians.

Police said they cannot use criminal statistics to assess claims that students have been forced to make protection payments. The statistics cannot be broken down by school type, individual school or specific alleged conduct such as having to hand over money.

The school has previously made headlines after pepper spray was released and a major police operation took place. In May 2025, a student attacked a teacher with a knife, and a court ordered the student’s placement in a psychiatric facility.

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If someone triggers a false alarm from a fire detection system and the perpetrator is identified, they will be charged a flat rate of 1,389.56 euros by the Ludwigshafen fire service.