A German correctional officer was suspended Thursday over allegations that he illegally leaked an arrest warrant for an Iraqi homicide suspect, which was then spread by extremist groups linked to anti-immigrant violence in the city of Chemnitz.
Saxony’s regional justice ministry said the official would be suspended “with immediate effect” after initial suspicions against him had been corroborated.
“Passing on confidential documents in a criminal procedure is irresponsible and constitutes a serious charge,” said Saxon justice minister Sebastian Gemkow in a statement.
“In the worst case, this could put the success of an investigation in danger and make the prosecution of the perpetrators more difficult because it could, for example, influence witnesses.”
The fatal stabbing of a 35-year-old German man in Chemnitz prompted violent protests by the far right and clashes with the far left this week, with further demonstrations planned, after it emerged the main suspects were from Iraq and Syria. The German government has condemned the far right for “hunting down” people they believed to be foreigners after the stabbing, and at least 10 people face legal proceedings for giving the Nazi salute during the protests.
Germany has strict privacy guidelines concerning criminal procedures, and personal information about suspects — including their last names — is not usually released by police. The arrest warrant contained the suspect’s full name as well as his address.
A 39-year-old officer named Daniel Zabel told Bild newspaper earlier on Thursday that he photographed and spread the arrest warrant because he “wanted the truth and only the truth to come to light.” The Saxon authorities did not name the officer who was suspended.
Zabel also said he did not realize what the consequences of his actions would be, and that he “at least should have blacked out the name and address,” according to German media.