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Following the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old Black man by police, civil rights advocates in Germany are urging an impartial investigation into alleged police racism. The incident occurred after an altercation outside a nightclub, prompting widespread concern and calls for accountability.
Investigation Launched After Fatal Shooting Sparks Racism Concerns
A 27-year-old officer has been placed on leave following the early Sunday morning shooting in Oldenburg, north-west Germany. State prosecutors have initiated a murder investigation, emphasizing that such measures are standard protocol. While fatal police shootings are infrequent in Germany, this incident has ignited a debate about police conduct and potential racial bias.
Authorities have withheld the victim’s name, citing privacy laws, but media sources and advocacy groups have identified him as Lorenz A.
Details of the Incident
According to a police statement, Lorenz A., a German citizen, allegedly used pepper spray on security personnel after being denied entry to the club, injuring four individuals. He then reportedly brandished a knife while fleeing the scene.
Police maintain that when officers located him, he again deployed pepper spray and approached the 27-year-old officer in a menacing manner, leading the officer to discharge his weapon.
Autopsy Results Raise Questions
A coroner’s report indicated that multiple shots struck Lorenz A. from behind, specifically in the back of the head, torso, and hip, according to local prosecutors. An additional bullet is believed to have grazed his upper thigh. He was later pronounced dead at a local medical facility.
Daniela Behrens, the state interior minister, stated that the autopsy findings raise “serious questions and grave suspicions” that necessitate thorough examination and resolution.
Reactions and Calls for Independent Inquiry
The shooting has prompted a range of reactions, with various groups and individuals expressing concern and demanding a transparent and impartial investigation.
Police Union Cautions Against Hasty Judgments
Police representatives have cautioned against premature conclusions. Kevin Komolka, chair of the GdP police union, addressed claims of racism, noting the potential for a biased perception of law enforcement. “There are racism accusations because the deceased was a person of colour,” he stated. “There’s a mood developing painting police as trigger-happy hooligans.”
Evidence Under Review
Prosecutors are analyzing security camera footage and audio recordings from the scene. Initial findings suggest that Lorenz A did not threaten the police with the knife he possessed. Notably, officers’ body cameras were reportedly deactivated during the incident.
Amnesty International Calls for Impartial Investigation
Rights organizations have voiced profound concerns over the circumstances surrounding the death. Amnesty International’s German branch asserted that the shooting “impacts an entire community and all those people in Germany affected by racism.” They stated that an internal police-led inquiry would be inherently biased, emphasizing the need for “independent investigation mechanisms” free from police or interior affairs authorities’ control, citing “structural racism.”
Community Mourns and Demands Justice
The Black People in Germany Initiative (ISD) shared testimonials from friends and family, describing Lorenz as an enthusiastic basketball player and a “fun-loving person who was full of energy.”
“Now he’s dead, killed by an institution that is supposed to protect us,” the ISD stated, echoing calls for an independent inquiry and the establishment of a national complaints office for police misconduct allegations.
Foundation Denounces Isolated Incident Claim
The Amadeu Antonio Foundation, dedicated to combating extremism and racism, challenged the notion of an “isolated incident” and questioned the police’s assertion that the officer feared for his life.
Upcoming Demonstrations
A rally and march organized by a “Justice for Lorenz” group, which has amassed over 15,000 social media followers, are scheduled in Oldenburg, with police anticipating at least 1,000 participants. Similar demonstrations are planned in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Vienna.
Background: Racism and Policing in Germany
The Black Lives Matter movement, sparked by the death of George Floyd in 2020, amplified scrutiny of German police practices. In September 2020, 29 officers in North-Rhine Westphalia were temporarily suspended after sharing extremist right-wing content, including a depiction of a refugee in a gas chamber and the shooting of a Black person, within a WhatsApp group.
A 2024 study revealed that 30% of German police officers had witnessed colleagues making racist remarks in the past year, with a notable increase in reported anti-Muslim sentiments.
Trends in Police Shootings
According to data compiled by the trade journal Civil Rights and Police, German police fatally shoot an average of 10.5 people annually. While there is no consistent long-term trend, the number of victims surged to 22 last year—more than double the average—and 11 such cases have already occurred this year.
In 2023, Germany’s federal criminal police office reported a record number of violent attacks against firefighters, police, and emergency services personnel.