German Police Mistakenly Shoot Soldier During Training Exercise
German police - Photo credit Unsplash
Berlin, Germany — A military training exercise turned tragic when German police accidentally shot and wounded a German soldier, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The incident occurred during a joint drill involving the federal army and police forces near Bremerhaven.
The soldier, who has not been publicly named, sustained a gunshot injury to the leg and is in stable condition at a nearby military hospital. Police say the bullet was fired during a “live weapon scenario” in which law enforcement officers were supporting the army with crowd-control training.
Officials report that the policeman responsible – also unnamed – had been acting “under assumed orders” during the exercise and believed the target was a simulated threat. Early investigation suggests the soldier entered a restricted zone without proper identification, prompting the policeman’s reaction. Authorities emphasize that no deliberate wrongdoing is yet established.
The German Ministry of Defence has launched a formal inquiry into the protocols of the joint exercise. In a statement, Defence Minister said the “unacceptable incident underscores the need for clearer coordination and stricter safety controls during interagency training.”
Federal police and military leadership stressed that exercises will continue but with immediate suspension of live-fire activities until safety checks are completed. Analysts say the incident raises concerns about readiness and oversight in increasingly frequent cross-agency drills.
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