20.09.2020
20:45
29.607
Escalation after the Seebrücke demo, police officer threatens: “Push me and you’ll catch a bullet!”
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From Anneke Müller
Dresden – The demonstration of the “Seebrücke” alliance was announced for 1.30 p.m. on Sunday.
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When the demonstrators clashed with the police on the Wilsdruffer, the fateful sentence was uttered: “Push me and you’ll catch a bullet”. © private
About 300 to 400 followers gathered on the Alum Square in the new town. Your demand: evacuation of all refugee camps on the European border and acceptance of people in the EU countries.
Afterwards, the majority of them made their way to the Kulturpalast with banners and banners. Until then, according to the police, everything was peaceful.
But after the leader of the meeting had declared the action over, there was a dramatic escalation around 4 p.m.
A group of black-masked people blocked lanes and Straba tracks on Wilsdruffer Straße with an extra-wide banner (“End the murder at the border”) at Pirnaischer Platz.
The head of operations asked the demonstrators to clear the way and earned angry shouts.
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Video is available to TAG24
After the announcement, the officer took a few steps back and put his hand on his service weapon. © private
What happened next is shown in a video available to TAG24.
The chief of operations approaches the banners, wants to push them back and calls out to one of the masked people in the agitated mood: “Push me and you’ll catch a bullet!”
Outraged screams, the officer takes a few steps back and actually puts his hand on his pistol. Other officials rush over to try to calm down. Later the situation resolves.
The official’s threat to shoot remains in the room.
Police spokesman Thomas Geithner (46): “We will speak to the operations manager on Monday and then position ourselves.”
No comment was received from “Seebrücke” on Sunday.
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Update, September 20, 9:08 p.m.: Dresden police take a stand
The Dresden police commented on the incident and the video shortly before 9 p.m. on Sunday evening and reported, among other things (edited):
“… The published scene was preceded by the throwing of a fog pot out of the assembly. The chief of operations then decided to secure the fog pot alone as evidence. As a result, 25 to 30 masked assembly participants pressed him. The officer felt a shock The officer then tried to move backwards from the people. He put his hand over the weapon to prevent his service weapon from being taken away. “
Police President Jörg Kubiessa said: “Securing the service weapon in such a tense situation is correct and also absolutely appropriate. Tactically we still have to follow up the operation, because the sole action of the officer – the securing of evidence – does not correspond to the principles of the Self-protection. “
The police officer has meanwhile confirmed that the criticized sentence comes from him. Although he regretted this statement, according to the Dresden police, he was also able to credibly assure that the use of the firearm, or even the threat of it, was never an option for him.
Jörg Kubiessa went on to say: “The sentence fell like this. The colleague admitted it and apologized for it. When assessing his behavior, one must certainly take into account the circumstances – a hectic, confusing situation. Nevertheless, the bottom line is that for me it is undisputed that such a sentence must not be uttered. However, I do not see any reason for disciplinary action. “
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Update, September 21, 8:47 a.m.: Undogmatic radicals Antifa Dresden take a stand
The Undogmatic Radical Antifa Dresden (URA) commented on the incident and the video on Monday night shortly before 3 a.m. They defend themselves against the allegations of the police.
The URA announced, among other things, that the head of operations had targeted the smoke pot and kicked it in the direction of the demonstrators. According to the police chief, the chief of operations only wanted to secure it.
In addition, “less than a dozen people” are said to have stood at the place where the chief of operations was standing and tried to tear down the banner. As a result of the chief’s threat to ‘push me and you’ll catch a bullet’, the demonstrators reacted angrily and pushed him Operations leader back. He stepped back and picked up the service weapon. “
According to the URA, the use of a weapon should have been conscious. The head of operations lifted this a few centimeters out of the holster.
The URA strongly criticizes the statements of the police chief and describes them as “protective claims”. In the statement it says: “Here the aggressive behavior and threatened use of firearms by an officer is to be covered up and dismissed as self-defense or act of affect.”
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Title photo: private
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