German police establish new fatality record
The 22 fatalities mark the highest annual total this century, with numerous incidents involving knives, as reported by dpa. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
In 2024, German police reported a record 22 fatalities, the highest number for any year this century, as noted by the news agency dpa based on law enforcement data. This figure represents more than double the 10 fatalities recorded in 2023; 11 were shot and killed in 2022, while eight were killed in 2021, according to a report released on Tuesday.
The statistics from the Civil Rights and Police publication suggest that the 2024 total may be the highest since German reunification in 1990, with previous spikes reaching 19 deaths in both 1995 and 1999.
Many of these incidents involved individuals experiencing psychological distress, often armed with knives. For instance, a 31-year-old woman was shot in a Munich supermarket, having had previous encounters with police due to mental health and substance abuse issues.
On December 31, 2024, a fatal shooting occurred in Grünsfeld, a small town in Baden-Württemberg, where police shot a 38-year-old man who had stolen an excavator. He caused significant damage and injured officers during a lengthy pursuit.
This incident followed closely after the attack at the Magdeburg Christmas market on December 20, 2024, when a car crashed into a crowd, resulting in six deaths and over 200 injuries. The suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, was apprehended at the scene.
Jochen Kopelke, head of the German Police Union, mentioned to Welt in October that the increase in fatal shootings may be related to a rise in societal violence. He pointed out that officers are encountering more aggressive attacks and, in high-tension situations, are often compelled to act decisively to neutralize threats.
Recent statistics indicate a substantial rise in violent crime in Germany, according to local media. In 2023, violent crime reached a 15-year high, with 214,099 reported cases—an 8.6% increase from the prior year. The overall crime rate also rose by 5.5%, totaling 5.94 million cases, the highest number recorded since 2016.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
The statistics from the Civil Rights and Police publication suggest that the 2024 total may be the highest since German reunification in 1990, with previous spikes reaching 19 deaths in both 1995 and 1999.
Many of these incidents involved individuals experiencing psychological distress, often armed with knives. For instance, a 31-year-old woman was shot in a Munich supermarket, having had previous encounters with police due to mental health and substance abuse issues.
On December 31, 2024, a fatal shooting occurred in Grünsfeld, a small town in Baden-Württemberg, where police shot a 38-year-old man who had stolen an excavator. He caused significant damage and injured officers during a lengthy pursuit.
This incident followed closely after the attack at the Magdeburg Christmas market on December 20, 2024, when a car crashed into a crowd, resulting in six deaths and over 200 injuries. The suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, was apprehended at the scene.
Jochen Kopelke, head of the German Police Union, mentioned to Welt in October that the increase in fatal shootings may be related to a rise in societal violence. He pointed out that officers are encountering more aggressive attacks and, in high-tension situations, are often compelled to act decisively to neutralize threats.
Recent statistics indicate a substantial rise in violent crime in Germany, according to local media. In 2023, violent crime reached a 15-year high, with 214,099 reported cases—an 8.6% increase from the prior year. The overall crime rate also rose by 5.5%, totaling 5.94 million cases, the highest number recorded since 2016.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
