Deadly incident in Cologne Policeman is pushed onto the tram tracks and dies
Cologne · On Friday evening, a 32-year-old off-duty policeman was run over by a tram in Cologne and fatally injured. He had been out celebrating carnival when he was apparently pushed between two tram cars.
According to GA information, officials found a police ID card on the body of the man. He had most recently been working in Düsseldorf but had also worked as a police officer in Cologne, where he was currently living. On Friday evening when the incident occurred, he had been off-duty and was out celebrating carnival in Cologne. He was an officer with the special State Criminal Police (LKA).
As the police announced on Saturday afternoon, video recordings from a surveillance camera at the Chlodwigplatz station in Cologne were evaluated after the incident. It was determined that the 32-year-old was apparently pushed between the tram cars. Then the person who pushed him, who remains unidentified, disappeared into the crowd.
The police officer was dragged along the track by the tram and then left on the bed of gravel at the tracks. The driver did not notice the incident and continued on his journey. According to police, the 32-year-old was killed instantly.
Many people witnessed the terrible incident as they had also been waiting for the tram at that stop. They were cared for by fire and rescue service workers. Two companions of the police officer who was killed, were taken to a nearby hospital for support.
According to the police, the deadly incident took place around 11:50 pm. The area around the site was cordoned off so investigators could search for evidence. Homicide commission investigators are currently evaluating numerous video recordings to clarify exactly what happened and to identify the suspect.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is requested to contact the Criminal Commission 11 at 0221 / 229-0 or by e-mail (poststelle.koeln@polizei.nrw.de).
Orig. text: Michael Wrobel, Alf Kaufmann, Translation: ck
