Refugee gunned down by German police officers

Police officers shot and killed an asylum seeker during an operation at a refugee shelter in the small German town of Harsefeld on Sunday evening, reported dpa.

The officers came across a 40-year-old man from Sudan who was armed with a knife, the public prosecutor's office said on Monday.

"In the course of the further operation, the 40-year-old attacked the forces with the knife, which is why they made use of their firearm and fired several shots," it said.

According to a spokesperson of the public prosecutor's office, police forces had been called to the shelter twice on Sunday because the man was allegedly threatening other people.

The officers tried to have him admitted to a psychiatric ward, but a court had refused to do so.

Around 11.30 pm (2130 GMT), the officers were again called by residents because the 40-year-old man was threatening them with a knife.

The refugee died in the hospital. The public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation against the police officers involved for manslaughter.

In particular, it has to be clarified whether the officers acted in self-defence.

According to the mayor of Harsefeld, Ute Kueck, it was already known that the man had psychological issues and he was under the care of the health office and the social psychiatric service.