It was an ordinary patrol that ended fatally for a German policewoman (24 years old) and a policeman (29 years old). Sunday night into Monday, the two policemen were fatally shot during a road check in the district of Kusel in Rhineland-Palatinate. This was reported by the police in Kaiserslautern.
Background of incident still unclear
The background of the incident is still unexplained. Police officers from the Kusel police station were on routine patrol. The fatal shots were fired during a roadside check on County Road 22 in Ulmet around 4:20 a.m.
According to BILD, the first radio message sent by officers was that a suspicious vehicle had been stopped. They then reported that they had found a dead animal in the trunk and would now conduct an inspection.
Shortly thereafter, a second hectic radio message was suddenly sent: “They’re shooting at us!”, after which radio communications with the patrol crew broke down.
The officers died on the spot
Another police patrol arrived on the scene. According to BILD, the female officer was already dead when her colleagues arrived on the scene. The 29-year-old officer died moments later.
As the statement was made over the radio: “THEY are shooting at us!”, investigators are assuming at least two perpetrators – possibly poachers, who are obviously carrying guns.
Bernhard Christian Erfort, a spokesman for the Western Palatinate police said: “Colleagues reported over the radio that they were checking the vehicle. Shortly afterwards they reported that shots had been fired. Colleagues then found two injured and dead.”
The police union (GdP) announced that the slain policewoman was still a student. The woman was studying at the police academy.
Police are searching for the perpetrators and asking for help
The search for the fugitives is currently underway. Trace evidence at the scene is being secured. There is no description of the perpetrators or the vehicle used to escape. The direction of the escape is also not yet known.
In the meantime, the manhunt has been extended to the entire state of Saarland. Police are asking for any information at the following telephone number: 0631-36 92 52 8.
Source: www.bild.de