The Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw has opened an investigation into how a Nigerian street trader was shot during a brawl with a police officer, Sunday.
The incident happened on Sunday morning in Warsaw’s Praga district while policemen were undertaking a routine check of traders at a bazaar near the National Stadium construction site.
A preliminary police report claims that when policemen approached the traders on Sunday morning one of them took flight. After police caught the man a fight broke out.
Police say that the man was shot after an officer's gun went off. Police spokesman said that they were hampered from giving the man immediate first aid because they were repeatedly attacked by a gang of traders. "This man could have been saved and police officers started to resuscitate him, but they were repeatedly attacked with stones by a group of foreigners and were forced to defend themselves, and had to stop the resuscitation," Sokolowski said.
“Witnesses claim that when the Nigerian was trying to take the policeman’s gun it went off,” claims police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski. The bullet entered the man’s femoral artery.
As a result of the fight one man was killed and at least seven policemen were wounded. The policeman who probably fired the gun sustained head injuries and was taken to hospital. Thirty-two foreigners who traded at the bazaar were put in custody. They are being interrogated along with policemen who took part in the routine check.
“The man who was killed had a criminal record for financial fraud. The reason why he tried to escape is not clear yet,” said Sokolowski. Earlier, he had told journalists that he might have been dealing illegal substances.
The Nigerian foreign ministry, meanwhile, has described the killing as ‘wanton’.
"The ministry strongly believes that there can be no justification for this wanton killing of a Nigerian citizen. The killing without established culpability demonstrates the highhandedness on the part of the Polish police." (mg/pg)
Source: PAP/AP
Related story: One man dead in Warsaw shootout , thenews.pl 23.05.2010
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