World

German police shoot dead man after excavator 'rampage'

By AAP Newswire

Jan 1, 2025

Police and ambulances — Three police officers have been injured after a man stole a digger and was shot dead. -AP

A man has been shot dead by police in southwestern Germany after going on a rampage with a stolen excavator, injuring three police officers.

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Police in the state of Baden-Württemberg described the incident on X as a "suspected rampage".

Further details were initially unknown but there was no danger to the public, a spokeswoman added.

The 38-year-old German man stole an excavator from a construction company in the town of Grünsfeld, south of Frankfurt, where he reportedly destroyed the entire inventory.

He then drove the vehicle to another town, a few kilometres away, damaging several patrol cars and other vehicles during the journey.

Im Main-Tauber-Kreis kam es zu einer mutmaßlichen Amokfahrt. Ein Mann hat in Grünsfeld einen Bagger an sich genommen und hat damit Personen verletzt und zahlreich Fahrzeuge beschädigt. (1/2) — Polizei Heilbronn (@PolizeiHN) #MTK311224 pic.twitter.com/jgE4afArrE December 31, 2024

One policewoman injured during the incident was taken to hospital but has since been discharged.

The "rampage driver was stopped by gunfire" at a car dealership, the spokeswoman said.

He was resuscitated on-site but succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press