Mario N
"Covid-dissident" Mario N  (“Anti-vaxxer”, “terrorist”, Querdenker) | |
|---|---|
 From the surveillance video | |
| Born | 1970 Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Interests | “Far right” |
Man who shot dead a cashier at a petrol station after an argument over face masks in September 2021. Used in corporate media propaganda, "See, all anti-vaxxers are terrorists! | |
Mario N is a German "far right supporter and Covid-denier" who drunkenly shot dead a cashier at a petrol station after an argument over face masks in September 2021. The BBC reported that he expressed "climate denial" and supported the AfD.[1]
Family background
His father had shot his mother in the head. She survived, but seriously injured. The father then killed himself. Mario N then took care of his invalid mother[2]
The case
Prosecutors said he had initially tried to buy beer at the petrol station, but left after the cashier refused to serve him as he was without a mask.[1]
According to his lawyer, N. had been in a mental crisis, had also drunk more than ten half-liter cans of beer that day and had about 2/1000 alcohol in his blood at the time. Mario N. had radicalized from 2015, the pandemic measures had intensified this. From Mario N.'s point of view, the state had crossed borders with the mask requirement.[2]
He was caught quickly. In September 2022, he was convicted to life imprisonment.[2]
Propaganda
The case was extensively used by corporate media and politics to create an enemy image, presenting the man as a typical Covid-dissident.
Chancellor Angela Merkel gave the case prominence, by condemning the "heinous" killing. Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz said "As a society, we must resolutely stand up to hatred".[1]
According to the BBC, unnamed "analysts" looked at the suspect's social media profile, on which he spread climate denial, expressed support for the far-right AfD party and said "I'm looking forward to the next war"; and where the killing afterwards was praised on chat groups that are known to be used by the far right and conspiracy theorists.[1]
Politician Armin Laschet, using fake concern, appealed to the Covid-denying protesters known as Querdenker (lateral thinkers) not to use violence.[1]
The case was found important enough for documentaries on state televison.[3]
