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Bavarian Police Shoot German Soldier After Mistaking Military Drill for Real Threat

Officials describe a misinterpretation during a large public exercise, with a formal investigation now underway.

Overview

  • Police opened fire Wednesday evening in Erding after emergency calls reported a person with a long gun, according to a Bavarian police statement.
  • Responding units, including a helicopter, moved to Hohenlindener Street in Altenerding where they encountered military personnel taking part in a drill.
  • The soldier was grazed in the face, received hospital treatment for minor injuries, and was released, and police said there was no danger to the public.
  • The incident occurred during Marshal Power, a drill conducted across about a dozen Bavarian towns that involves roughly 500 military police and hundreds of local police and firefighters, Deutsche Welle reported.
  • Bild reported that soldiers fired blanks, prompting officers who were unaware of the exercise to return live fire, and state criminal police and prosecutors in Landshut have opened an inquiry.