Investigation Launched After Death of Man in Hamburg Police Custody
Authorities probe potential police misconduct following fatal incident in Billstedt.
On May 14, 2025, authorities in Hamburg announced a significant development in the case of a 36-year-old man who died following a police encounter in the Billstedt area.
The public prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation against an officer from the Billstedt police station on suspicion of official misconduct involving bodily harm.
The officer is alleged to have punched the man, who was reported to be suffering from a mental health crisis, in the head without apparent justification.
The circumstances surrounding the man’s death remain unclear, with a pathological-anatomical examination failing to determine a definitive cause of death.
Further investigations, including examinations of the body, are currently underway.
The incident occurred on April 17, 2025, when the man was reportedly behaving erratically in his apartment, allegedly under the influence of drugs and threatening responding officers with a metal rod.
After he discarded the rod from his balcony, he attempted to jump from a sixth-floor window but was restrained by officers.
Prior to arriving at Police Station 42 on Möllner Landstraße, an ambulance was summoned—a detail that had not been disclosed until the recent inquiry by the Left Party.
Once in custody, officers monitored the man through an open door.
As his breathing became increasingly shallow, he was moved to the hallway where paramedics initiated resuscitation efforts.
Despite these efforts, the man later died in the hospital.
Deniz Celik, the interior policy spokesperson for the Left deputies in the Hamburg Parliament, voiced strong criticism regarding the handling of the situation, stating, "It is unacceptable that this punch was previously concealed and only came to light due to our inquiry.
The mere suspicion of unlawful police violence in connection with the man's death is intolerable." Celik has called for a thorough investigation into the events that transpired.
The timing of the alleged punch has not been clarified, and the specific reasons for the man’s loss of consciousness remain unknown.
This incident follows another recent case in May 2024, where a 32-year-old Algerian man died in police custody at St. Georg station, which showed no signs of external culpability.
The public prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation against an officer from the Billstedt police station on suspicion of official misconduct involving bodily harm.
The officer is alleged to have punched the man, who was reported to be suffering from a mental health crisis, in the head without apparent justification.
The circumstances surrounding the man’s death remain unclear, with a pathological-anatomical examination failing to determine a definitive cause of death.
Further investigations, including examinations of the body, are currently underway.
The incident occurred on April 17, 2025, when the man was reportedly behaving erratically in his apartment, allegedly under the influence of drugs and threatening responding officers with a metal rod.
After he discarded the rod from his balcony, he attempted to jump from a sixth-floor window but was restrained by officers.
Prior to arriving at Police Station 42 on Möllner Landstraße, an ambulance was summoned—a detail that had not been disclosed until the recent inquiry by the Left Party.
Once in custody, officers monitored the man through an open door.
As his breathing became increasingly shallow, he was moved to the hallway where paramedics initiated resuscitation efforts.
Despite these efforts, the man later died in the hospital.
Deniz Celik, the interior policy spokesperson for the Left deputies in the Hamburg Parliament, voiced strong criticism regarding the handling of the situation, stating, "It is unacceptable that this punch was previously concealed and only came to light due to our inquiry.
The mere suspicion of unlawful police violence in connection with the man's death is intolerable." Celik has called for a thorough investigation into the events that transpired.
The timing of the alleged punch has not been clarified, and the specific reasons for the man’s loss of consciousness remain unknown.
This incident follows another recent case in May 2024, where a 32-year-old Algerian man died in police custody at St. Georg station, which showed no signs of external culpability.
Translation:
Translated by AI
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
