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Rhineland cops under investigation for faking attack

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Rhineland cops under investigation for faking attack
Photo: DPA

Two police officers in North Rhine-Westphalia have been suspended while officals investigate whether they faked a violent attack which put them in the hospital.

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The officers from the city of Oberhausen had claimed on June 14 that after going to investigate a possible drug deal, they were suddenly attacked and injured by unknown assailants.

At the time, officials said both officers had to be hospitalized and one was supposedly so badly hurt he was put in an intensive care unit.

A prosecutor told the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ) that it was possible to fake pain severe enough to trick doctors into thinking it was real.

“When you come to the hospital with alleged pain, it's examined carefully,” he said.

To figure out what happened, a special investigation committee was established, but it was unable to find any witnesses.

Now officials believe, evidence shows the officers faked the attack, although it is unclear what their motive might have been. Authorities say they are now sceptical of whether the officers were even injured at all.

“We are just at the beginning of further investigations,” police spokesman Johannes Paus told the WAZ “Research into a motive is ongoing. We cannot and will not say more at this time.”

Convictions for faking an attack and wasting police resources could result in a prison term of up to three years. But, officials said, the incident carries even more serious consequences because it damages citizens’ trust in their police force.

“If the allegations are confirmed, the reputation of the police will take a hit and that will obviously make the work of officers more difficult,” said Volker Serve, with the GdP police union.

The Local/mdm

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