Police-Related Fatal Shootings in Germany Reach 25-Year High in 2024

A total of 22 people were killed by police gunfire last year, with many incidents involving individuals in psychological crises.

In 2024, German police killed 22 people, the highest number of fatal shootings in 25 years, according to an analysis of police reports.
The majority of cases involved individuals experiencing psychological crises, with several wielding knives or other weapons during confrontations.
Prominent incidents included the fatal shooting of a man in Grünsfeld who used a stolen excavator to cause extensive damage and injure officers during a pursuit.
Other cases included a woman shot in a Munich supermarket after reportedly attacking officers with a knife and a man in Kamp-Lintfort who was holding a keychain mistaken for a weapon.
The police union has linked the rise in fatal shootings to an increase in violent crime, though the overall trend raises concerns about handling mental health crises during law enforcement interventions.