Nils Melzer, the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, issued a request for information after video footage from yesterday’s demonstrations went viral showing a German police officer throwing an elderly woman to the ground during a protest against the restrictions.
The footage, allegedly recorded during the anti-confinement protests in Berlin on Sunday, showed the woman attempting to walk past an officer before he grabbed her by the neck with both hands and forcefully threw her to the ground.
In the video, other protesters could be seen reproaching the police officer for the assault and trying to help the injured woman, while several officers continued to push others in the area with less force.
Melzer, confirmed Sunday that the video had been brought to his attention. He has requested witness statements and details to evaluate launching an official investigation.
This has just been brought to my attention.
Can anyone provide my office with the specifics / witness statements of this incident and whether an official investigation has been launched?
Send to: sr-torture@ohchr.org
(please not via Twitter-reply/DM)
Thank you! https://t.co/ly00UlPDMw
— Nils Melzer (@NilsMelzer) August 1, 2021
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