Civil rights activists in Germany have demanded an independent inquiry into alleged police racism after an officer shot a 21-year-old black man from behind, killing him after an altercation outside a nightclub.
The 27-year-old officer was suspended from duty over the shooting early on Sunday morning in the city of Oldenburg in north-west Germany pending a murder investigation, said state prosecutors. Fatal police shootings are relatively rare in Germany and prosecutors were quoted in local media as saying the suspension and investigation were “routine”.
Police have not identified the victim due to data protection laws but media and pressure groups have identified him as Lorenz A.
Incorrect, according to German legislation, weapons may be used to protect life and prevent harm. Courts have recurrently ruled that an attacker with a knife approaching the police or innocent bystanders are considered beyond stoppable if they are in immediate reach of a potential victim (which has been said to be in a range of 6 meters and below).
What needs to be established now is whether the cop used unnecessary lethal force, since the guy has been hit 4 times (3 direct hits, once grazed), and at least one shot was from behind.