Police Move Quickly to Qwell KPD Protest; Prisoner Shot in Cell

The protest organized by the KPD to express their displeasure over the City's denial of a May 1st demonstration permit was a non-event, with only a few KPD members showing up outside Party Headquarters on Steinpfort Strasse to chant slogans and taunt the police. Police, who were on the scene within minutes, demanded the protesters disband in accord with the City's newly enforced ban on public gatherings. When protesters refused to disperse police made three arrests for "political agitation" and the demonstration came to a rapid conclusion. Those arrested were identified as KPD members VoltaireVanguard, Haru Menna and Elis Felicci.

Upon conveyance of the prisoners to Police Headquarters on Dorotheen Strasse, VoltaireVanguard, a prominent official in the local KPD, was shot in his cell by Police Oberwachtmeister Danitz. The shooting occurred at approximately 15:30SLT and within 2 minutes an officer was dispatched to the hospital to seek a medical doctor, but none was immediately available.

According to police, the prisoner drew a weapon in the cell and ObW Dantiz fired in response. Fellow prisoner Felicci disputed the police version of events, claiming that Vanguard had no weapon. "I saw everything," said Felicci, who was quickly released after payment of a fine. "It was officer Piden. He [Vanguard] didn't have a gun. They [the police] planted the gun." Officer Pinden stated unequivocally that the shot had been fired by ObW Dantiz, who corroborated this account.

At this time, about 10 minutes after the shooting, prisoner Haru Menna claimed to have some training in First Aid and asked to be allowed into the cell with the wounded and heavily bleeding Vanguard. Police agreed, but as Menna was being searched at about 15:45, a small explosive device was detonated filling the cell level with thick smoke. Police evacuated the cell area, leaving the two prisoners there. "I shut her down there," Officer Pinder reported. The Officer in Charge, Danitz, responded, "Let them choke on their own smoke. We need to get us some teargas. I cant wait till they send us our new rifles." Officer Pinder laughed at this, and ObW Danitz added, "The next person we arrest, we just throw down the stairs."

The police then began negotiating with Menna, offering to open the door to the smoke filled cell area only if she would handcuff herself first. At 16:08, a third attempt was made to locate a doctor and one finally arrived at 16:17, nearly 50 minutes after the shooting. At that time, ObW Dantiz told the doctor that he was not required, and that they had decided to transport the victim to the hospital using the police truck that had been sitting outside the building the entire time. Transport finally occurred at 16:27, nearly an hour after the shooting.

Haru Menna subsequently denied exploding the smoke bomb, claiming instead that Officer Pinder had accidentally dropped and detonated it while searching her. She did not deny carrying it into the police building, where she was further detained on unspecified charges.