In addition to horror and sympathy after the fatal shots at two police officers near Kusel, there is also hatred and threats online. A man was arrested last night.
As the police announced, the State Criminal Police Office had previously pointed out that two videos had been uploaded to the man’s public Facebook profile in which so-called “cophunting” was called for. Among other things, the man from the Herrstein-Rhaunen community (Birkenfeld district) gave instructions on how police officers should be lured onto a dirt road on any day between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. and fired on from an ambush. The man stated that he could organize such a scenario for a participation fee or a fee.
Police: Man had baseball bat and crossbow ready
With a search warrant and special police forces, the man’s property was then searched in a place in the Herrstein-Rhaunen community. When the special forces attacked at around 10:20 p.m., the apartment door was barricaded, according to the police. There was also a baseball bat and an unloaded but readily accessible crossbow next to the door and in the room where the accused was said to have been.
Call for police murder: man released after arrest
The officials therefore used an electric taser to overwhelm the 55-year-old. In a first spontaneous statement, the man confirmed his “murderous hatred” of the police. He was arrested and temporarily taken to the psychiatric ward of a hospital because of his mental condition.
According to the police, the 55-year-old is now facing, among other things, a procedure for disturbing the public peace through the threat of criminal offenses and threats. Because there was no reason to keep the man in custody, he was released after a thorough psychiatric examination. Police investigations continued.
Hate Speech Investigation Team deployed in RLP
According to Interior Minister Roger Lewentz (SPD), the work of the Hatespeech investigation group drew attention to the statements made online. The man also explained on his Facebook profile how to organize a celebration. “The state doesn’t accept something like that,” says Lewentz.
Dreyer: “Disgusting and inhuman”
Lewentz, like Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD), condemned online reactions that cheered the killing of the two police officers. Dreyer said that the state government will continue to use all means of the rule of law against those “who insult, threaten and use violence against our police forces. That is our obligation and responsibility.”
Dreyer described hate tweets on social networks as disgusting and inhuman, which were directed against the police after the terrible act. “The young 24-year-old police commissioner candidate and the 29-year-old police commissioner are #TwoOfUs.” And that is much stronger than the abominable hate and hate speech on the internet, she is sure of that, says Dreyer.