Two police helicopters were involved in a collision during a training
exercise at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Thursday, leaving at least one person
dead and several injured.
The accident happened in snowy conditions as more than 400 police
officers were taking part in an exercise that simulated dealing with football
hooligans.
The helicopters, which crashed on a sports field west of the stadium,
were part of a flight of three bringing in officers as reinforcements for those
on the ground.
Witnesses said the first helicopter had landed safely, then a second
helicopter landed a short distance away. The third craft crashed into the
still-rotating blades of the helicopter that had landed first. Witnesses said
parts of the rotor blades were sent spinning through the air.
The pilot of one of the helicopters was killed, according to Bild
newspaper.
Two people were seriously injured, according to the emergency services.
An eyewitness told NTV, the German broadcaster: "It was a real snowstorm.
Suddenly we heard a bang and someone shouted 'Everybody down'. Then there was
blood everywhere. Next to me was a huge puddle of blood."
A fire service spokesman said visibility at the scene was very limited.
A police spokesperson said a decision had been made to carry out the training
exercise despite the snow.
Heavy snowfalls have disrupted transport in Germany recently, leading
to the closure of Frankfurt airport earlier this month after 5in fell.
Heavy, drifting snow contributed to a crash on a motorway north of
Frankfurt that involved more than 100 vehicles. At least 20 people were
injured, six seriously.
Hans-Peter Friedrich, the German interior minister, who visited the
accident scene an hour after the crash, said: "I've seen what there is to
see. We are thinking of the families and the injured."
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