German Police Establish New Record for Fatal Shootings
According to dpa, 22 fatalities mark the highest annual toll this century, with numerous incidents involving knives. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
According to a report from the news agency dpa based on law enforcement records, German police recorded a record 22 fatalities in 2024, marking the highest number this century. This figure is more than double the 10 fatalities reported in 2023, with 11 deaths in 2022 and eight in 2021, as detailed in the report released on Tuesday.
Statistics from the publication Civil Rights and Police suggest that the fatalities in 2024 may represent the highest annual total since German reunification in 1990. The previous record had been 19 deaths in both 1995 and 1999.
Many of the fatal incidents involved individuals in psychological distress, often armed with knives. For instance, a 31-year-old woman was shot in a Munich supermarket after having prior encounters with law enforcement due to mental health and drug-related issues.
On the last day of 2024, a tragic incident occurred in Grünsfeld, a small town in Baden-Württemberg, where police were involved in a fatal shooting after a 38-year-old man stole an excavator, causing extensive damage and injuring officers during a prolonged chase.
This event took place shortly after the Magdeburg Christmas market attack on December 20, 2024, where a car was driven 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, stated to Welt in October that the increase in fatal shootings might be associated with a rise in societal violence. He pointed out that officers are facing more aggressive attacks, which often forces them to take decisive action to neutralize threats in escalating situations.
Local media have reported a significant rise in violent crime in Germany, with police statistics indicating that in 2023, violent crime reached a 15-year high, with 214,099 cases reported—a notable 8.6% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the overall crime rate rose by 5.5%, totaling 5.94 million cases, the highest since 2016.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
Statistics from the publication Civil Rights and Police suggest that the fatalities in 2024 may represent the highest annual total since German reunification in 1990. The previous record had been 19 deaths in both 1995 and 1999.
Many of the fatal incidents involved individuals in psychological distress, often armed with knives. For instance, a 31-year-old woman was shot in a Munich supermarket after having prior encounters with law enforcement due to mental health and drug-related issues.
On the last day of 2024, a tragic incident occurred in Grünsfeld, a small town in Baden-Württemberg, where police were involved in a fatal shooting after a 38-year-old man stole an excavator, causing extensive damage and injuring officers during a prolonged chase.
This event took place shortly after the Magdeburg Christmas market attack on December 20, 2024, where a car was driven 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, stated to Welt in October that the increase in fatal shootings might be associated with a rise in societal violence. He pointed out that officers are facing more aggressive attacks, which often forces them to take decisive action to neutralize threats in escalating situations.
Local media have reported a significant rise in violent crime in Germany, with police statistics indicating that in 2023, violent crime reached a 15-year high, with 214,099 cases reported—a notable 8.6% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the overall crime rate rose by 5.5%, totaling 5.94 million cases, the highest since 2016.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
