Neuägeri, 03.07.2025
Hotel tenant sharply criticises the actions of the special unit
Smoke bombs, broken doors, heavy weapons. According to tenant Yuliia Haraszti, the police went on a rampage at the Rössli aparthotel. The police defend their actions.
The Aparthotel Rössli is located on the busy Zugerstrasse, which winds its way through Neuägeri: ten rooms, parking, self-check-in. Nestled between an apartment building and a horticultural business, the dark brown building looks inconspicuous in its rural surroundings. Nothing indicates that it was the scene of a massive police operation just a few days ago.
Shortly before 6 pm on the evening of Saturday, 26th June, the Zug police received an emergency call: according to the caller, two loud bangs had been heard coming from the property. The operations command responded to the unclear situation with a large contingent. Among others, the Luchs special unit (Sondereinheit Luchs) was deployed, which is intended for operations involving a high risk to life and limb – such as hostage-taking or suspected terrorism (we reported on 27th June).
Several people had to leave the building, and the Zugerstrasse was closed between Schmittli and Unterägeri. The special unit then searched the entire hotel. According to police spokesman Frank Kleiner, no weapons or dangerous objects were found on the people who were checked, or in the building. There were also no indications that shots had been fired.
Tenant speaks of devastation
For Yuliia Haraszti, the tenant and manager of the Hotel Rössli, the operation came as a shock. She told our newspaper by telephone: ‘The police devastated the building.’ She was abroad at the time of the operation, and the police contacted her by telephone and informed her that there were indications of a possible shooting. They had to search the rooms. ‘I gave them my office code so they could get the keys. I expressly asked them not to break down the doors,’ she adds.












What happened at the Rössli? Photo: Maria Schmid
The Luchs special unit forced open twelve doors.
This door was broken.
A pillow was torn open.
The carpet was singed. Photos: zvg/ Yuliia Haraszti
But that’s precisely what happened. The officers forced the doors open. In addition to the damaged doors, Yuliia Haraszti is particularly critical of the use of smoke bombs in one of the rooms. ‘This caused a stench in the room for days. A bedspread was singed.’
Police justify action on grounds of urgency
The police have confirmed the use of so-called ‘irritants’, but emphasise that these were necessary and did not cause any harm to the guests. Police spokesman Frank Kleiner justified the action on the grounds of ‘the unclear situation and a possible threat from an armed person’.
He also commented in writing on the opened doors, saying that the emergency services on site had tried to contact the hotel manager by telephone several times, but in vain. It was only later that the police reached the manager and gained access to the office, where various keys were available. Some of them were not labelled, however. ‘It was impossible for the emergency services to identify them during the operation.’ According to Frank Kleiner, the unit forcibly opened a total of twelve doors.
While the police justify their actions with the uncertainty of the situation, Yuliia Haraszti has now called in her lawyer. She says: ‘My image has been damaged, my guests have left. The hotel is no longer presentable and I cannot accept new bookings.’
According to Frank Kleiner, the operators of the aparthotel can submit a state liability claim to the Security Directorate of the Canton of Zug for the property damage incurred. But the mere assumption of liability for the property damage is not enough for the tenant.
In the meantime, things have calmed down at the Rössli. The locks have been changed and some guests are still renting rooms. The question of what happened at the Hotel Rössli on the evening of 26th June remains unanswered. The investigation is ongoing, according to Frank Kleiner.