Man dies after police operation in Cologne: body to be autopsied

11/6/2023, 6:00:20 PM

Highlights: Man dies after police operation in Cologne: body to be autopsied. As part of a police operation, a man was tasered and medicated in Cologne. The autopsy of his body is now expected to shed light on his cause of death. Police officers had "overpowered the man using a distance electric pulse device," the police report said. The man is said to have rioted in the apartment of a prostitute in the city's old town. He did not want to be calmed down even in the patrol car, police continued.

As part of a police operation, a man was tasered and medicated in Cologne. Then he died. The autopsy of his body is now expected to shed light on his cause of death.

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Police officer with taser (symbolic image)

Photo: Soeren Stache / dpa

On Sunday night, a man was overpowered with a Taser during a police operation in Cologne. This was confirmed by the public prosecutor's office and the police in a joint statement. Police officers had "overpowered the man using a distance electric pulse device," the police report said.

According to the information, the operation took place in front of an apartment building in Cologne's old town. There, the man is said to have rioted in the apartment of a prostitute. Because he did not want to be calmed down even in the patrol car, an emergency doctor gave him a drug, the police continued. As a result, the man collapsed and died a few hours later in hospital.

Cause of death to be clarified

Now it is to be clarified what caused the death of the man, who has not yet been identified. The autopsy of the body has been ordered, the public prosecutor's office in Cologne announced on Monday.

An investigation had been initiated. It is being examined whether there are concrete indications of criminally relevant culpability on the part of police officers or medical staff with regard to the death of the man.

ala/AFP