Police deplore inhumane posts about hostage-taking
The Hamburg police have criticized inhumane comments on their messages on the X platform (formerly Twitter) about the hostage-taking at the airport. "As part of our reporting on X on the hostage-taking at Hamburg Airport, we received an alarming number of comments that were simply morally reprehensible and inhumane in view of the tragic situation," wrote the head of the police social media team, Kay Metzke, in a post. "Among other things, the immediate and reckless use of snipers was called for to fulfill monetary and recreational needs."
The police could not leave the devaluation of the people involved without comment. The top priority was to protect the little girl. "We are grateful for the peaceful outcome of the operation and appeal for more humanity," Metzke wrote on Tuesday.
This post met with much approval. The police union (GdP) responded with an applause emoji, while numerous other users thanked the police for their efforts. "You did a fabulous job late at night under difficult conditions," wrote one user. Another said: "Great statement, right and important."
On Saturday, a 35-year-old man had broken through the access restrictions to Hamburg Airport with a car and made his way onto the apron of the airport. The background to this was a custody dispute: According to the public prosecutor's office, the man wanted to use the action to force the joint departure to Turkey with his daughter, who had previously been forcibly abducted from his ex-wife's apartment in Stade (Lower Saxony). The hostage-taker only surrendered to the security forces after around 18 hours of negotiations.
Despite the positive responses, air traffic at Hamburg Airport was significantly disrupted due to the incident. The situation highlighted the potential for digital platforms to fuel crime, as reckless comments about the situation demonstrated. For instance, some users suggested using snipers not for rescue but for personal gain, showcasing the need for Internet etiquette in such sensitive situations.
Source: www.dpa.com
