Law Enforcement Training Undertaken: Police conducting crisis simulations at a school in Ratekau
Lübeck Police Conduct Large-Scale Crisis Exercise at César-Klein School
On September 13, 2025, the Polizeidirektion Lübeck led a significant training exercise at the César-Klein School in Ratekau. Approximately 500 participants, including police officers from Lübeck, Ostholstein, special forces from the Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Police Office, and the Holstein Emergency Services, took part in the exercise.
The exercise involved two threat scenarios developed by the Lübeck Police Directorate, simulating a real-life school environment. In the morning, an amok alarm was triggered, leading police officers to storm the school, armed and in protective vests, to care for injured people and organize the handover to the rescue service. In the afternoon, special forces searched for an armed perpetrator who had allegedly injured several people in the school.
Throughout the exercise, the interfaces and communication between the uniformed police, criminal police, special forces, rescue service, and school staff were crucial. The cooperation between the police and the rescue service was emphasized during the exercise, with the handover of injured persons from the police to the rescue service for further treatment and care.
The exercise presented psychological and emotional challenges for both teachers and police officers. Appropriate support was provided for those experiencing need during the exercise. In a final statement, Bernd Olbrich, director of the police directorate of Lübeck, praised the exceptional commitment of all participants.
The training was closely monitored by separate coaches, deployment trainers, observers, referees, and supervisors. Important criminal police investigations were conducted at the scene to identify a possibly fleeing perpetrator, coordinate search measures, and assess the perpetrator's danger level.
Over 100 'students' were part of the exercise, played by trainees and students from the police directorate for training and further education. Actors with fictional injuries and teachers and staff from the school contributed to a realistic exercise scenario. Individual teachers and staff from the school volunteered to participate in their own roles during the exercise.
In the coming weeks, the experiences and results of the exercise will be analysed and evaluated. For further inquiries, contact the Press Office of the Polizeidirektion Lübeck, specifically Ulli Fritz Gerlach, Press Spokesperson.
