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Wild catfish attacks bathers at Brombachsee - police shoot!
An aggressive catfish injures five bathers at Lake Brombachsee, police shoot it for safety. Critical voices on the decision.
Wild catfish attacks bathers at Brombachsee - police shoot!
A shocking incident occurred on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Brombachsee in the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district. A catfish over two meters long and weighing 90 kilograms injured at least five bathers in an aggressive attack near a swimming island. The large fish reportedly remained in the swimming area for an extended period of time, causing concern among those present. Red Cross rescue workers provided immediate assistance, treated the bite wounds on site and alerted the police when the aggressive behavior did not subside, as inFranken reported.
“That was a significant security risk,” explained Michael Petzold, spokesman for the Middle Franconia police headquarters. Therefore, it was decided to kill the catfish to prevent further attacks. The swimming area was then closed and a police officer shot the fish with his service pistol. He was injured, but could not initially be caught. Finally, two anglers recovered the catfish after the police reopened the swimming area.
The background to the incident
The catfish was probably defending its clutch, which led to the injuries. Catfish typically spawn near shore, and low water levels may have pushed it into the swimming area. Normally, catfish are not part of the natural prey spectrum of humans and are rather peaceful. The attacks are considered extremely rare, which makes this incident even more remarkable. Police and fishing experts stress that in such occasional incidents, stress or threat could possibly explain the catfish's aggressive response. \"Normally, catfish avoid busy bank areas,\" said Thomas Funke, spokesman for the Bavarian State Fishing Association, about the situation.
The injuries suffered by the bathers were not serious, but the panicked reactions in such a situation could pose serious risks. Compliance with the lockdown was a challenge, especially during the “Burning Beach” festival taking place at the same time: it remains unclear whether festival visitors were among those injured.
Public reactions and security measures
The killing of the catfish sparked heated discussions among people on social media. Critics voice concerns about the fish's spawning season and the need to kill it. While some support the police's decision, there are also many who oppose the killing of an animal. The weather with high temperatures also led to a “removal requirement” for catfish in Brombachsee, which means that anglers have to remove caught catfish because a high population density has been reached.
In Bavaria, such incidents occur every few years, and the European catfish (Silurus glanis) has a longevity of up to 50 years. Its habitats in lakes and rivers are known not only in Bavaria, but also in other parts of Germany. However, experts point out that such aggressive attacks by catfish are extremely rare and are usually due to special circumstances that put the animal under stress.
The situation at Brombachsee is an impressive example of how nature and leisure activities can sometimes collide. To prevent future incidents, it remains important for bathers to be vigilant and report unusual animal behavior.