During a violent attack during a police operation in Trier on Friday night, around 40 people attacked the police with iron bars and glass bottles, among other things.
At least five police officers were injured during the operation in the city of Rhineland-Palatinate, a police spokesman said on Friday.
Two men aged 42 and 21 were arrested, others are on the run.
Police had already been called to a nightclub in Trier-West shortly after midnight because of alleged bodily harm. Due to the hot weather and the large number of drunk people, several vehicles made their way.
While the facts were recorded, some passers-by began to attack the police. They defended themselves from the attack “with great effort” using pepper spray, police said.
Iron bars, glass bottles, brooms and shovels
Around the same time, around 40 people joined together to attack the police. The police were attacked “with iron bars, glass bottles, brooms and shovels”. One man even threw a shopping cart at the police.
“For the emergency services, who were outnumbered, this created a life-threatening situation,” he said. It was not until an officer fired two warning shots into the air that the situation calmed down and the officers were able to evacuate their injured colleagues.
“I have never experienced an outbreak of violence against the emergency services during my time as head of the Trier police station,” Police Director Christian Hamm said in a press release on Friday morning. “A group of violent criminals came together to attack and injure police simply because of their presence.” Five officers could not have continued their duty due to injuries.
Police are now investigating on suspicion of bodily harm, resistance to law enforcement, serious breach of peace and attempted release of prisoners.