Violent fan stands trial on attempted murder of policeman in Germany

A man appeared in court in Magdeburg on Monday at the start of a trial on charges of attempted murder of a police officer during fan violence at a German second division football match, reported dpa. The 29-year-old is suspected to have played a leading role in incidents at the January 24 match between Magdeburg and Dynamo Dresden in which more than 70 police officers were injured. He was in handcuffs and ankle shackles as he was escorted into the court room by special judicial security officers. The man initially made no statement regarding the allegations. The trial will continue on Tuesday. According to the public prosecutor, the defendant deliberately assumed a leadership role among the attacking fans and fueled the aggressive atmosphere. After surveillance cameras had allegedly been sprayed with paint, Magdeburg fans, including the defendant, attacked police during half-time. They allegedly chanted “Drop dead, filthy pigs” and “Were going to kill you” and threw paving stones and torn-out stadium seats toward the police. According to the prosecution, the defendant threw a paving stone weighing about 15 kilograms toward the officers. One of them was struck and suffered a laceration above his left eye. According to the indictment, he could have been fatally injured. The defendant was arrested at the end of January, a few days after the riots, and has remained in pretrial detention ever since. In addition to the charge of attempted murder, the trial also concerns aggravated breach of the peace, dangerous bodily harm, and assault on law enforcement officers.