A man was shot dead by police in Germany on Tuesday after a wild ride with an excavator. Several cars were damaged and three police officers were injured. Because the man did not obey orders to stop, police eventually shot him. He died from his injuries.
The facts took place in Grünsfeld, in Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany. The man had stolen an excavator from a construction company there around 1:30 p.m. and started destroying all the contents. He then moved with the colossus to Tauberbischofsheim, a few kilometers away.
According to police, the entire scene lasted about an hour and resembled an action movie. Police chased the man and repeatedly urged him to stop, but he continued to accelerate. At least four patrol cars were damaged, as were an unknown number of privately owned vehicles. The man drove his excavator onto the grounds of a car dealer, but was stopped around 2:30 PM after the police opened fire. He died from his gunshot wounds.
It is unclear what exactly inspired the man. The police initially referred to X as a suspected case of “frenzy”, but did not repeat this in its press release. She calls on damage victims and eyewitnesses to come forward. An online portal is available where images can be uploaded.
The perpetrator is a 38-year-old German. How he gained access to the excavator and whether he has ties to the construction company is the subject of the investigation. The police are not assuming a political motive for the time being, it was said on Tuesday.
The three officers who were injured are incapacitated, but none of them are in serious condition.
© X
