The violent death of a 18-year-olds provides for protests in Toronto, Canada. In an empty tram Sammy Yatim was wielding a knife, the police struck him down with nine shots.

Only to fall three shots, then another six – and in the end the police firing a taser on the dying from: The YouTube video of a bloody police action has caused in Toronto for protests.

In the Canadian metropolis of the 18-year-old Sammy Yatim had been shot by police after he had handled in a tram with a knife on Saturday.

The uploaded to YouTube movie shows how police officers standing in front of the otherwise empty trams and Yatim repeatedly request to drop his knife. Shortly after, they opened fire, a stun gun is used. Yatim dies, according to the “Toronto Star” a little later in the hospital – “multiple gunshot wounds”, the official cause of death.

Hundreds of people were on Monday (local time) on the street to protest against the death of the teenager. For many protesters is an extreme case of police brutality. A Canadian ex-cop subscribed to this view and told the AP news agency, the officers in the video acted excessively hard.

Toronto Police Shoot:”I know that answers are needed”

According to Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair investigators are now investigating the circumstances of the deadly use. One of the officers involved has been suspended from duty. Blair said he had seen the video and understand the public concern. “I know that answers are needed,” he said.

What is uncertain is why it ever came to a confrontation with the police. Yatim, who wore a nearly eight centimeters long knife with him, according to “Toronto Star”, had previously forced all passengers to get off the tram.

In a protest march through Toronto also Yatims mother and sister attended. “Shame” chanted the crowd demanded justice for the murdered teenager and an end to police brutality.

According to his uncle Yatim was born to Canadian parents in Syria, five years ago, he had moved with his father to Canada.

The death of 18-year-old evokes memories of a similar case in Berlin. There was a policeman at the Neptune fountain shot a mentally ill man, after he had threatened him with a knife. Even then, the question became, according to whether the officials had responded adequately.

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