During a routine patrol during the night from Sunday to Monday, two police officers from the Kusel police station were killed. The current developments in our live ticker:
Monday, January 31st
Politicians are dismayed
10:10 a.m
The Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of Labor Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) speaks on Twitter of “terrible news from the Kusel region”.
Federal Minister of Transport and FDP Chairman in Rhineland-Palatinate, Volker Wissing, writes that the act is shocking and “stunned”. Daniela Schmitt (FDP), Economics Minister in Rhineland-Palatinate, tweeted: “My thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends and the colleagues in the Kaiserslautern police.”
Misbah Khan, the Green Party leader in Rhineland-Palatinate, expressed her condolences to the families of the two officers who were killed on Twitter this morning. It is unacceptable that “young people who have consciously decided to serve the community have become victims of violence”.
The CDU Rhineland-Palatinate also tweeted that it was “affected and shocked”.
Background of the fact still unclear
9:55 a.m
Almost six hours after the deadly shots at the police officer in the West Palatinate, the background to the crime is still unclear. The search for the perpetrator or perpetrators is in full swing.
Special broadcast on SWR at 6:15 p.m
9:45 o clock
In the early evening, Südwestrundfunk will also report on the deadly shots at the police officers in the West Palatinate in an SWR extra. You can watch the special broadcast at 6:15 p.m. live on SWR television, here in the live stream and in the SWR Aktuell app and on SWR Aktuell on Facebook.
GDP: Policewoman who was shot was still in training
9:30 am
According to the police union (GdP), the police officer who was shot was a candidate for the police commissioner. The 24-year-old was still studying at the police university, according to the GdP. Her 29-year-old colleague died with the woman. State chairwoman Sabrina Kunz continued: “Our thoughts are with the relatives of the two dead and also with all colleagues. We are living through the real nightmare of all police officers. Our deepest condolences go to the relatives. Hopefully the perpetrators can be arrested promptly so that possible dangers for the population are averted. This unscrupulous action and the act stunned me,” said Kunz.
Police spokesman: “Great concern”
9:20 a.m
There is now a first, brief statement from the spokesman for the West Palatinate police headquarters, Bernhard Christian Erfort. He told the SWR: “The colleagues here are very affected. Some knew the killed officers personally.” Police officers are currently still at the scene of the crime on the district road between Mayweilerhof and Ulmet to secure traces. Therefore, the road in this area is completely closed. In the district of Kusel, the police are on the move with emergency services in civilian clothes and uniforms.
What we know so far
9:05 a.m
At around 4:20 a.m., the two police officers from the Kusel Inspectorate were walking in a circle. According to the information, they wanted to carry out a traffic control near Ulmet on Kreisstraße 22. According to the police, shots were fired at the officers. You could still have sent a radio message yourself. When reinforcements arrived at the scene of the crime, it was already too late for the 24-year-old police officer and her 29-year-old colleague. The police are looking for the fleeing perpetrators at high pressure and are busy securing clues at the crime scene. There is no description of the perpetrators or the getaway vehicle used. The direction of escape is also unknown. District road 22 around the crime scene near Ulmet in the Kusel district (West Palatinate) is closed. The police asks the population not to pick up hitchhikers in the Kusel district. At least one suspect is armed. Witnesses who have noticed something suspicious are asked to contact the Kaiserslautern police on 0631 369-2528. The search has now been extended to neighboring Saarland.
securing evidence at the crime scene
8:50 a.m
At the scene of the crime on Kreisstraße 22 between Mayweilerhof and Ulmet in the district of Kusel (West Palatinate), experts are currently securing traces. According to official information, the officers killed were a 24-year-old policewoman and a 29-year-old colleague.
Search for the perpetrator or perpetrators extended to Saarland
8:30 am
In search of the perpetrator or perpetrators, the police have extended the search to neighboring Saarland.
Police officers radioed the report
8:00 a.m
A police spokesman said in the morning that the police officers could have sent a radio message themselves from the traffic control site. When reinforcements arrived at the crime scene, it was already too late for the 24-year-old police officer and her 29-year-old colleague.
call for witnesses by the police
7:30 a.m
According to official information, witnesses who saw something suspicious should contact the police in Kaiserslautern. The phone number is: 0631 369-2528. Any other police station will also take tips.
Police warn against picking up hitchhikers in the Kusel district
7:15 a.m
The police are looking for the fleeing perpetrators at high pressure and are busy securing clues at the crime scene. There is no description of the perpetrators or the getaway vehicle used. The direction of escape is also unknown. District Road 22 is completely closed in the Mayweilerhof and Ulmet areas. The police asks the population not to pick up hitchhikers in the Kusel district. At least one suspect is armed.
Police Kusel: Two officers fatally injured during routine operations
7:15 a.m
According to the Kusel police, two officers from the local police inspection were fatally injured by gunshots during a routine patrol during the night. The events of the incident during a traffic control on district road 22 in the Kusel district at around 4:20 a.m. are still unclear.
In the early morning, unknown persons fatally injured a policewoman and her colleague on a district road near Ulmet in the Kusel district. The background to the fact is still unclear.
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