Thorsten W. worked for the police administration in Hamm, (North Rhine-Westphalia), until February 2020. In 2013 and 2014, he worked in the area of "gun permits" at the police headquarters and participated in gun license verification. Most recently, he worked in the traffic department. In his spare time, he often dressed as a Germanic warrior and had himself photographed with a sword and shield decorated with runes. In one of his profiles on social networks there were numerous images of swastikas and the Schutzstaffel. Since 2018, he had hoisted a Reichskriegsflagge on his balcony, wore clothing brands associated with the right and had affixed the stickers with the slogan "do not throw lying press" on his door. It was common for him to share messages on his social networks where he justified some attacks such as the shootings in Christchurch in 2019. These behaviors did not lead to disciplinary consequences at work.