Police in Munich shoot 14-year-old Turkish boy after mistaking airsoft gun for real weapon

In Munich, Germany, a 14-year-old boy of Turkish origin was shot and severely wounded by police after his airsoft-type air pistol was mistaken for a real weapon.

The incident reportedly took place on Belgrad Street in the city's Schwabing district. Police teams were dispatched to the area following reports from bystanders about a "person carrying an object resembling a weapon."

According to ANKA, police opened fire on the child at the scene. The severely wounded child was taken into surgery. His condition is reported to be stable.

Police sources alleged that the child was "acting as if he were loading" the weapon in his hand and, despite warnings, raised the weapon and pointed it toward the officers. Police argued that it was extremely difficult to distinguish the airsoft pistol in question from a real handgun from a distance.

It was reported that the prosecutor's office has launched a preliminary investigation into the incident. It was noted that the police officer who fired the shots is being treated as a "witness" in the investigation at this stage.

An investigation has also been launched against the wounded child on allegations of threatening police officers. It was stated that the child had arrived in Germany with his family in 2023 and that his asylum application had been rejected.