Knife attack in Moers: Police shoots 26-year-old attacker

Knife attack in Moers: Police shoots 26-year-old attacker

The police control center in Moers, North Rhine-Westphalia, received an emergency call on Tuesday about an emergency call about a man who is said to have started with a knife on passers-by. But when the emergency services arrived, they themselves became the goal of an attack.

The incoming police officers discovered the man, who apparently held two knives in his hands at that time and stormed on the officials. The perpetrator, a 26-year-old German citizen, caused a dangerous situation through his aggressive behavior that forced the police officers to use their firearms. Fortunately, no other people were injured.

debate about gun law

This incident occurs just a few days after a fatal attack in Solingen, in which a 26-year-old Syrian killed three people and seriously injured eight others. These two cases again raise a debate about weapon law and the security of the citizens. In particular, there is a discussion about tightening the ban on the knife and possible errors of the authorities.

The alleged act of the Syrian in Solingen is classified as a terrorist act. He faced the police on Saturday and is now suspected of acting on behalf of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist militia. IS has claimed the crime of what the discussion about security and terrorism further fueled in Germany.

ongoing investigations

Further details about the incident in Moers have not yet been announced. The Duisburg police control center is still silent, apart from the confirmation that no other people have been harmed. The murder commission will now analyze all the findings to gain a clear picture of the event.

The attack on the police officers once again shows how dangerous and unpredictable such missions can be. The officials often have to make decisions within a second fractions that decide on life and death. Every act of this kind inevitably leads to a discussion about self -defense and proportionality of police violence. In the case of Moers, the use of firearms was apparently the last opportunity to control the situation.

background information for killing in Moers

Moers is a medium-sized city on the Lower Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia. With around 104,000 inhabitants, it is one of the larger cities in the Wesel district. The city has a far -reaching story and is known for its historical buildings and the cultural offer.

The incident occurred in an otherwise quiet residential area of ​​Moers. The police and public prosecutors work closely together to comprehensively clarify the events. According to the public prosecutor's office, a murder commission of the Duisburg criminal police was set up to determine the exact background of the incident. This procedure is common in police operations that fatal to identify possible misconduct and the need for changes in police practice. For more information about the city of Moers and current developments, please visit the homepage of the city of Moers as well as the website of the police nrw .

statistics and data on violent crime in Germany

Violent crime in Germany has shown different trends in recent years. According to the police crime statistics (PKS) of the Federal Criminal Police Office, there were a total of 174,000 violent offenses in 2020, which is a slight decline compared to previous years. Nevertheless, knife attacks and attacks on police officers are a growing problem. In 2020, 4,366 attacks on police officers were registered nationwide. Further information can be found on the homepage of the Federal Criminal Police Office .

historical parallels: Earlier incidents with fatal police operation

Similar incidents with a fatal outcome at police operations have always been in the past. For example, an incident occurred in Chemnitz in 2019, in which a 22-year-old man, who was also armed with a knife, was shot by the police. In both cases, these were situations in which the officers looked at the immediate danger and were forced to use their firearms.

These incidents regularly raise questions about the training and equipment of the police, especially with regard to dealing with mentally noticeable or armed persons. In comparison, it can be determined that in both cases a quick and determined reaction from the police was required, but this repeatedly leads to discussions about proportionate use of violence among the population. For further information, visit the Tagesschau .