Stores' chaos erupts as knife-stealing suspect causes havoc
In the heart of Munich, a chilling scene unfolded when a woman, acting erratically, went on a knife rampage. The incident took place at the Theresienwiese, home to the famous Oktoberfest. The woman, age 30, initially caused a disturbance in a grocery store but was later released from police custody with no further action taken. Reports of possible psychological issues swirled, but the police remained tight-lipped.
The victims, a 56-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, were lightly injured. The woman attacked the man near the Theresienwiese, followed by the attack on the woman. The only trace left behind the next day was a fluttering band. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and the woman had no known history of violent acts.
The Munich homicide commission launched a full investigation into the gruesome knife attacks. Speculations about the police shooting the woman began circulating almost immediately. The authorities moved swiftly to review the use of force by the officers involved.
Eyewitness accounts suggested that the woman approached people quietly, causing little suspicion, before pulling out a knife. One man claimed she came close to him, producing a knife and causing him to shout "Get away, knife!" The police did not confirm this report.
The tragic event stirred emotional reactions. Father Gino Levorato of the Paulskirche, located right next to the scene, expressed his relief that the victims were lightly injured but said the attacker's death deeply affected him.
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann expressed regret over the fatal police shooting. Herrmann had previously dismissed calls for the increased use of Tasers, stating they were not a 'cure-all' for dangerous situations, especially when suspects are armed with knives. However, his party colleague Alexander Dobrindt announced plans to equip federal police with Tasers, citing the increased threat to police in public spaces.
The demand for patrol officers in Bavaria to be equipped with Tasers gained momentum after a similar incident last August, when a mentally ill woman was shot by police in Munich after allegedly handling a knife in a supermarket and attacking officers. At the time, the head of the German Police Union stressed that Tasers could protect officers and prevent attackers from suffering more severe injuries, but also emphasized the importance of having a colleague with a drawn weapon for cover in knife attacks.
In 2024, more individuals died from police shootings in Bavaria than in any year since 1997. Bavaria's legal framework has been under constant scrutiny due to concerns over the proportionality of police force, human rights, accountability, and the potential for excessive use of force, especially during sensitive interactions like policing assemblies or encounters with vulnerable individuals.
[1] Key takeaways regarding police use of force in Bavaria, as well as the emerging debate around the use of Tasers, can be found in the field of human rights and policing research, which emphasizes the importance of strict regulations, transparency, and accountability to maintain public trust in law enforcement.
- In the discussion of police tactics in Bavaria, the use of Tasers has become a contentious topic, with some advocating for their use as a means to protect officers and limit attacker injuries, while others express concerns about excessive force, particularly in sensitive interactions.
- The recent incidents of knife attacks in Munich, including the fatal police shooting of a woman and the demand for patrol officers to be equipped with Tasers, have highlighted the ongoing debate about the proportionality of police force and the need for stricter regulations in the field of human rights and policing.
