On 22 October in Erding, Bavaria, police fired a live round at a soldier during combined army‑police drills, leaving him with only minor injuries.
Joint Exercise Background
On 22 October in Erding, Bavaria, during a joint army‑police military drill, the police fired a live round at a soldier. The incident left the soldier with only minor injuries, and he left the hospital shortly thereafter. The event has raised questions about how such an occurrence could take place amid integrated exercises.
Assessment and Investigations
The scene was secured, and the criminal police, with assistance from the Bavarian Criminal Office, are conducting an investigation. The Bundeswehr has also announced a further inquiry into the incident.
Exercise Structure and Objectives
The large “Marshal Power” drills aim to train hundreds of participants to fight behind a fictional front line, simulating an attack on a NATO member state and the defense of alliance territory. Participants include, alongside the Bundeswehr, German police, fire brigades, and rescue services.
Threat Scenarios Covered
According to the Bundeswehr, the exercises involve training against threats such as drones, sabotage, and irregular forces—armed combatants unaffiliated with any national army.
Public‑Space Operations
Approximately 500 military police and 300 civilian rescue personnel conduct drills not on fenced ranges but in public spaces. The Bundeswehr says the exercises were coordinated with local municipalities and offices, but investigators question whether these arrangements were adequate.
Current Status and Future
Police were alerted to a man with a weapon and dispatched several units. A mistaken interpretation of the location led to the shot fired at the soldier, who was later identified as a Bundeswehr member participating in the drills. The exercises were originally scheduled to run until 29 October across several Bavarian locations, but as of 23 October 2025 a decision on whether they will continue has yet to be made.
