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Q: I heard that German policewomen are being offered bulletproof bras. What’s up with that?

A: And you thought your padded, underwire, push-up bra was bulletproof enough.

Yes, it’s true. A German policewoman has developed a bullet-resistant bra designed to be worn underneath a bulletproof vest.

Do women need more chest protection than men? Not exactly. But regular bras can be hazardous when hit by a projectile, said designer Carmen Kibat, an adviser on equal opportunities for the Hamburg-based Bundespolizei — Germany’s federal police force.

"The impact of a bullet can push the metal and plastic bits of the bra into an officer’s body, causing serious injury," Kibat said, according to the British Broadcasting Corp. "I always thought normal bras posed a safety risk and I wanted to change that," she said.

German policewomen have tested the new bras, now available as optional protection to more than 3,000 policewomen.

But don’t get the idea that these will one day make their way into your Victoria’s Secret catalog. These are more like Bridget Jones-wear – all white garments that come in only three sizes, emblazed with a "polizei" logo.

Thank goodness they’re underwear.

Got a question about goings-on in Europe? Send an e-mail to: news@estripes.osd.mil

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