Homeless man dies after being shot by police in Germany

A 52-year-old homeless man has died after being shot by an officer during a police operation in the western German city of Dortmund on Wednesday evening, reported dpa.

According to initial witness statements and bodycam footage, he was armed with a 2.5-metre-long iron bar from scaffolding. Before the emergency services arrived, he had used it to beat another homeless man, police reported on Thursday.

After the officers turned up, he repeatedly hit the door of Saint Reinold's Church with the iron bar.

"He did not comply with repeated requests from police officers to put down the iron bar," the police report said. "For this reason, police officers used a Taser several times."

However, after the stun gun had "hardly any effect," a police officer finally fired a shot from his service weapon.

The 52-year-old succumbed to his serious injuries in hospital. An autopsy was planned for Thursday.

The police investigation is ongoing. Witnesses have been asked to contact them. A link that can be used to upload witness videos will also be activated, the police announced: "We ask that videos showing the incident not be shared on social media."