Tiger Shot Dead by German Police After Escaping Enclosure Near Leipzig

German police shot dead a tiger that escaped from a private facility near the eastern city of Leipzig, with a 73-year-old man seriously injured in the incident, authorities said on Sunday.

Police said the man was inside the enclosure when the animal broke free in Schkeuditz, on the outskirts of Leipzig.

He was described as a volunteer authorised to be on the premises and was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

“The tiger left its enclosure. It was then found by police officers near a garden area,” a police spokeswoman said. The animal was then shot dead at the scene to eliminate any danger to the public.

A large police operation was launched at the scene, with some officers carrying heavy weapons. Because the animal was a fully grown tiger, long guns were used, the spokeswoman said.

Police confirmed that no other animals had escaped. A drone search was planned to verify the site was fully secure, police said.

A tiger trainer has kept eight big cats at the industrial site in Schkeuditz. The owner did not respond to a request for comment.