Attempted lethal murder - Police Actions in Mannheim: Justification for Their Decisions
Following the police's intervention in Mannheim, there was backlash, particularly from the right. The circumstances of the incident seemed to back their claims - a cop had picked up the wrong guy and in that instance, the actual assailant stabbed the officer in the neck. This aligned perfectly with the dominant right-wing narrative: A Muslim attacker walks free, while the officer who only wanted to help is thrown to the ground.
Baffling Scenario
Lars Winkelsdorf, a weapons expert, analyzed the situation using the footage available on "X" and discarded the criticism. Not only was the interpretation fundamentally wrong, but it also disrespected Rouven L., who lost his life in this operation. The situation was complicated and disorienting. Neither the police nor the officer had anticipated an attack. The attacker rushed in without warning. In the commotion of stabbing and beating, no one could discern clearly. Not even the officer, who valiantly and fearlessly stepped in to help. He did intervene to prevent a potential harm, but unfortunately arrested a man who happened to be part of Islam critic Michael Stürzenberger's entourage.
The officer's intervention threw people off. To his own eyes, he appeared to be the assailant. In the confusion caused by a stabbing and beating, police are usually unable to distinguish attackers from victims. When trying to separate and control combatants, they can inadvertently hurt the innocent person. As a result, the victim might be forced to the ground and detained roughly.
Main Terrifying Incident in Mannheim
This resulted in a lethal predicament. The police officer was pinned down by another officer, making him unable to defend or evade. With the attacker lunging at him, he was quickly stabbed in the neck. Even if other police officers could not prevent the stabbing immediately, they reacted according to protocol. At least two of them had unholstered their weapons. However, they couldn't fire because they didn't have a clear line of sight. One of them made a feint, creating a brief moment for a shot. He shot and ended the assault. Winkelsdorf considered him to be a "cold-blooded professional", one of the "5 percent". Winkelsdorf says, "What should the Mannheim police be criticized for, for not being 'well-trained'?" He further elaborates, "He did everything according to the book and was treated appropriately."
The first aid provided by the police was effective. "The officers in Mannheim are indeed well trained. They immediately applied a tourniquet and pressed on the wound with maximum force using their foot," recounts Winkelsdorf on "X".
Unyielding Shooter in Mannheim
Stopping a determined and armed assailant is difficult. Ideally, maintain a safe distance, as a stabbing attack can be fast and fatal. If the attacker is not free, employing firearms might be impossible. Under these challenging or dreadful circumstances, the authorities opted for the best possible solution. Without hesitation, they intervened in a chaotic, baffling, and hazardous scene to save the lives of innocents - Rouven L. lost his life in the process.
Read also:
- Despite the controversy surrounding the incident, the police in Mannheim were praised by weapons expert Lars Winkelsdorf for their quick response during the assassination attempt. He noted that an officer, mistakenly believing him to be the assailant, was able to disarm and subdue the attacker, even under challenging circumstances.
- In the wake of the attempted assassination in Mannheim, souvenirs related to Michael Stürzenberger, the accused assailant's associate who was mistakenly detained during the police operation, were removed from sale due to public outcry and the sensitive nature of the incident.
- The Mannheim police were faced with an unprecedented situation during the assassination attempt, as the officer who intervened was initially mistaken for the assailant. Following the police operation, Michael Stürzenberger, known for his vocal criticism of Islam, distanced himself from the incident, expressing sympathy for the unjustly perceived officer.
