- Unprovoked Violence on Mallorca: Potential Involvement of Officers from Essen?
German Law Enforcement Officers Accused of Brutally Assaulting a Taxi Driver on Mallorca
Officers from Essen are under suspicion of mercilessly attacking a taxi driver on Mallorca. Four individuals of German origin were detained shortly after the incident, which occurred in the wee hours of Tuesday, as reported by the police force of the Spanish holiday island. The police headquarters in Essen are currently investigating whether the suspected vacationers are in fact German law enforcement officials. "We're aware of the situation," a spokesperson for the German Press Agency stated. "There's a suspicion, it's not out of the question."
According to sources close to the German Press Agency, at least two of the suspects are alleged police officers from Essen (North Rhine-Westphalia) who were on the island for personal reasons. The local newspaper "Rheinische Post" had previously reported this. The assault on the 71-year-old Mallorcan was due to a misplaced cellphone, which the taxi driver did not have, as later confirmed by the Spanish police. All four suspects have since returned to their home country.
Taxi driver José María P. shared his account with "Mallorca Zeitung," stating that he thought they were going to kill him. The attackers claimed to be German law enforcement officers and even showed him their IDs, the 71-year-old recounted, who is currently receiving medical treatment in Palma with a broken arm, two broken ribs, black eyes, various injuries, and numerous bruises. The arrival of the actual police saved his life.
The incident was also reported by "Mallorca Magazin" and other local media outlets, as well as the Spanish state television station RTVE. The police on Mallorca have launched an investigation, which could result in severe consequences for the Germans. The son of the victim reported on Spanish television that his father may lose an eye. Spanish law provides for prison sentences ranging from three to six years for severe bodily harm.
It all began in Ballermann
According to the victim, three of the four suspects entered his taxi in Schinkenstraße, the main party street at Ballermann, en route to their hotel in the island's center. "Two of them were heavily intoxicated." The remaining three from the total group of seven passengers boarded the taxi of a colleague.
Upon arrival at the destination, a heated argument ensued, as per the police and the victim. One of the Germans claimed to have lost his phone and accused the taxi driver of stealing it. Initially, everything was peaceful, the taxi driver said. "They divided the bill and left a generous tip. I even helped them carry the two inebriated passengers outside." However, trouble arose when one of the passengers realized his phone was missing.
"Three other individuals exited the hotel," José María explained from his hospital bed to reporters. "We turned the taxi upside down and searched for the phone. Nothing was found, but I was still brutally beaten."
Upon the arrival of the police at a country hotel in Petra, about 40 kilometers east of Palma, one of the Germans is said to have offered the taxi driver and the police money to drop the charges, according to media reports. This alleged bribe led to the initial arrest of one of the Germans, followed by his companions.
"He doesn't want to see her lying on the beach anymore"
"The extent to which such incidents, particularly in light of growing protests against mass tourism, affect the perception of Germans and foreign tourists in general, not just on Mallorca, but across Spain, is evident in the sentiment shared by a taxi driver: 'For 40 years, I've driven Germans around Mallorca. I've never had an issue with them. Not even during night shifts at Playa de Palma,' he told 'Mallorca Zeitung'. 'People often asked me what I thought of Germans. I always praised them. Now, I don't even want to see them lying on the beach.'"
The German law enforcement headquarters in Essen are seeking information to determine if any of the detained individuals are actually police officers, as two of the suspects are reportedly from Essen. The Commission, which assists the Member States, may play a role in this investigation, considering the serious allegations against the suspected officers.
