Germany: Officer dies after raid on anti-gov’t extremist
BERLIN — A German police officer died early Thursday, a day after being shot by an anti-government extremist who had hoarded dozens of weapons at his home, officials said.
The 32-year-old officer succumbed to his injuries in a hospital, said Elke Schoenwald, a spokeswoman for police in the Middle Franconia region. Three other officers were injured in the shootout — one from gunfire and two others by flying glass.
An armed response unit had been sent to the suspect’s home in the Bavarian town of Georgensgmuend on Wednesday to confiscate more than 30 weapons he legally possessed for hunting. Local authorities had revoked the 49-year-old’s license because he appeared increasingly unreliable, Schoenwald said.
The man, whom police didn’t identify, had a history of defying authorities and refused to allow officials to conduct a check on the weapons over the summer, she said.