German police accused of ‘racist violence’ after death of Black man
64-year-old man died at hospital, a few weeks after police captured him using excessive force, according to rights group ReachOut
BERLIN
German police and their “racist” behaviors are responsible for the death of a Black man in Berlin on Thursday, a rights group said.
The 64-year-old man, Kupa llunga Medard Mutombo, died at a hospital three weeks after he was “brutally” captured by Berlin police officers, who wanted to transfer him from a mental health care institution to a hospital, ReachOut said in a statement.
“We mourn the death of Kupa llunga Medard Mutombo and denounce the practice of lethal violence legitimized by the racist structures of the Berlin police,” it said.
According to the ReachOut, Kupa llunga Medard Mutombo fell to the ground unconscious after police officers used “massive brutal violence” to seize him in his room on Sept. 14. He was later transferred to a hospital due to life-threatening injuries.
“Kupa llunga Medard Mutombo's death is not an isolated case. We believe that he was killed during this police operation,” the rights group said, after listening to the man's brother Mutombo Mansamba and witnesses about the incident.
Berlin-based ReachOut counsels victims of right-wing violence, racial profiling and racist police brutality.
According to the group, police brutality against Black people and migrants is a serious problem in Germany, but many cases go unreported, are not properly investigated or punished.
