Man with knife, officer wounded in Berlin cathedral shooting

By MICHAEL SOHN

Published June 03, 2018

Police opened fire Sunday at a man who was rampaging near Berlin's cathedral, wounding him in the legs. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Berlin police shot and wounded a 53-year-old Austrian man who allegedly waved a knife inside the cathedral in the center of the German capital Sunday, a police spokesman said.

There was no immediate indication the man's reported actions were linked to terrorism, Berlin police spokesman Winfrid Wenzel said. The dpa news agency quoted police as saying the man appeared to be confused.

Wenzel said the incident began when the man entered the Berliner Dom and waved a knife in the area of the altar. Cathedral employees called police, and dozens of people were evacuated from the holy site.

Police vehicles stand in front of Berlin Cathedral, Sunday June 3, 2018. (Paul Zinken/dpa via AP)

One of the two officers responding to the call opened fire, wounding the man, Wenzel said. The second officer also was inadvertently wounded by the shot or shots fired by his colleague, Berlin police said.

Both the suspect and the police officer were taken to a hospital. Dpa says the officer is in serious condition.

Police officers stay in front of the Berlin Cathedral in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, June 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

The area around the cathedral is typically crowded with tourists and visitors, particularly on Sunday. A Sunday evening prayer service at the church was canceled.

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