Residents of Bonnevoie were left shaken on Monday morning after armed police officers, including a specialist unit, carried out a raid on a residential property in Rue du Cimetière.
The operation targeted a man who had reportedly been seen on several occasions sitting in his car outside a refugee facility in Kirchberg, allegedly in possession of a weapon. Acting on the report, the public prosecutor’s office authorised a search of the suspect’s vehicle and a warrant to search his home.
During the operation, several occupants of the property were temporarily detained. Among them was a woman who is five months pregnant with triplets. She was woken by armed officers entering the house.
“They pointed their weapons at me as if they were about to shoot”, she said. “I was absolutely terrified. I was shaking and I truly thought I was going to die.”
After she repeatedly informed officers that she was pregnant, they lowered their weapons and escorted her outside. She was later taken to hospital suffering from abdominal cramps and was given medication. While she and her unborn children are now physically well, she says the psychological impact remains.
“I’ve been referred to a psychologist to monitor my mental state following the trauma I experienced”, she said. “I question whether this is the right way to catch criminals.”
A neighbour whose flat door was forced open described a similarly distressing experience.
“They told me to sit on the floor, place my hands on the ground and not make any movements, otherwise things could end badly”, he said. “I had been asleep and had no idea what was happening. There were several officers in the room with weapons. They detained me immediately and pulled a mask over my head. I struggled to breathe.”
Police searched the property until they were satisfied he was not the man they were seeking. He said he was released after approximately an hour.
In a press statement, police confirmed that they had received a report overnight concerning a man who was allegedly regularly parked outside a refugee facility in Kirchberg and appeared to be carrying a weapon.
Items seized during the search of the suspect’s flat in Bonnevoie included an unregistered firearm, illegally cultivated cannabis plants, equipment associated with drug dealing, and counterfeit banknotes.
According to information from RTL, the man who was the subject of the investigation was not arrested.
