Six months after fatal shots were fired at two police officers near Kusel (Palatinate), a trial over hate comments on the Internet has begun in Idar-Oberstein in Rhineland-Palatinate. A 56-year-old man has to answer to the district court for public incitement to commit crimes. Among other things, he is said to have announced the establishment of a “Cophunter Association” (policeman hunters’ association) in a video and called for the hunt for police officers as a “new sport”. The indictment was read out on Friday, and the trial will continue on August 25, a judicial spokesman said.
At the end of January, a police candidate and a chief inspector were shot dead during a nightly vehicle check near Kusel. The background is said to have been poaching. Two defendants are currently on trial in Kaiserslautern. The act of violence on a remote district road caused nationwide horror.
The process in Idar-Oberstein takes place under increased security precautions such as increased entry controls. In a second video, the accused from the municipality of Herrstein-Rhhauen (Birkenfeld district) is said to have cited the crime at Kusel as an example that killing young police officers did not pose any difficulties. He is also said to have claimed that he would pay 500 euros for a “coupling shot”.
According to the investigation, the man is said to be attached to conspiracy stories and is close to the so-called Reich citizens. He has been in custody since February. The general public prosecutor’s office in Koblenz had accused him of publicly inciting criminal offenses in May. Another trial date is scheduled for September 8th.
