After a controversial Munich police operation at a memorial event for the victims of the racist attack in Hanau last year, investigations into police officers have been discontinued, according to the State Criminal Police Office (LKA). The Munich police themselves gave the incident of February 19, 2022 to the Bavarian LKA for review after public criticism, reports and complaints from citizens.
“The evaluation of the extensive video material revealed three specific situations, which were submitted to the responsible public prosecutor’s office in Munich I for legal assessment based on the facts established in each case,” said the LKA on Monday at the request of the German Press Agency. Two suspects were investigated on charges of bodily harm in office, and an unknown person was charged with insult. According to the LKA, all three investigations were stopped by the public prosecutor’s office.
On the other hand, the trial against a man who is said to have hit a police officer on the helmet during this demonstration began at the Munich District Court on Monday. The 28-year-old, who says he was a volunteer paramedic at the event, denied the allegations. He got into a “fight”, he said, in which he defended himself out of reflex. A policeman held him by the legs, a second kneed him in the back and pushed him to the ground. He was still in pain the next day and went to the emergency room, where he got painkillers, the man said.
A video of the incident was shown at the start of the trial. “I can’t move,” you can hear. An officer investigating the matter also stated in court that when he analyzed the video, he “could not recognize a targeted punch” against a police officer. The hearing is scheduled to continue on June 5.