The police officer who shot at the cab of a tractor during the farmers’ protests last July will face prosecution for attempted murder, the public prosecution department confirmed on Friday.

The tractor was being driven by a 16-year-old youth who initially had also faced attempted murder charges for driving towards a group of police officers. Those charges were later dropped.

The police have not commented officially on the case but have reiterated that the police will only use their weapons when they consider it necessary to do their job.

‘It is a split-second decision and we judge what happened afterwards,’ broadcaster NOS quoted the police as saying. ‘In this specific case, the courts will decide.’

The incident had an enormous impact on both the teenager, his friends and family and the police, the statement said.