updates
Dreyer “deeply shocked”
Rhineland-Palatinate orders mourning flags
01/31/2022 10:49 am
After the death of two police officers in Rhineland-Palatinate, the state is in shock. Prime Minister Dreyer and Interior Minister Lewentz express their sympathy. As an outward sign of mourning, they order mourning flags in the country.
The Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer, and Minister of the Interior, Roger Lewentz, said they were “deeply shocked” by the fatal shots fired at a police officer in Rhineland-Palatinate. “Our thoughts are with the relatives,” said a statement from the two SPD politicians in Mainz. “The act is appalling,” Dreyer said on Twitter. “I am deeply saddened that two young people have lost their lives in the line of duty.”
Due to the events, the Prime Minister, in agreement with the Interior Minister, ordered mourning flags to be displayed in the country as a visible sign of mourning. The flags are then flown at half-staff. Black ribbons are provided for all patrol cars in the country.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser reacted with great dismay. “Regardless of the motive behind the act, this act is reminiscent of an execution and it shows that police officers risk their lives every day for our security,” said the SPD politician. “My thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of the victims. We will do everything we can to arrest the perpetrators.” Faeser said she offered the Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of the Interior all the support needed to arrest the perpetrators as quickly as possible and for the investigation.
“All of Our Losses”
Green Party leader-designate Omid Nouripour described the violent death of the two police officers as “extremely depressing”. Police officers did their service for the common good and worked “millions of hours and overtime,” especially during the pandemic, he said in Berlin. “If your life is in danger during traffic checks, it’s a very, very difficult matter and we will hopefully have information very quickly.” He expressed his condolences to the bereaved. “I believe we are all with them and know that their loss is the loss of all of us.”
The CDU state chairwoman of Rhineland-Palatinate, Julia Klöckner, was also “shocked”. “Two police officers who were doing their job were shot. Two officers who were there for our security, who have now become victims of incredible violence themselves,” said Klöckner. She expressed “full solidarity” with the families and relatives of the victims.
On the night of Monday, two police officers were fatally injured by shots during a traffic check in the Kusel district. The background to what happened is unclear. The officials from the Kusel Police Inspectorate were on a routine patrol, it said. The fatal shots were fired during a traffic check on District Road 22 in Ulmet at around 4:20 a.m. The police are looking for the fugitives with high pressure.