23.07. Berlin (PAP) – 18-year-old German of Iranian origin killed on Friday in a shopping center in Munich nine people and then committed suicide – police said on Saturday. Striker probably acted alone. After the shock Bavarian capital back to life.
“During the pursuit, in which participated a large police force, at approx. 20.30, was found the body of a man who – as a result of the current investigation – committed suicide,” – said the head of police in Munich Hubertus Andra.
In his view, this was a wanted suspect. “The information that the crime involved several other persons have not been confirmed,” – said the commander of the Munich police.
Investigators determined that the attackers first fired at McDonald’s and then in the mall, in which this restaurant is located. Later he attempted to escape. Striker fired his gun, and not – as previously given – with long firearms.
According to Andry suspect is 18-year-old German of Iranian origin living in Munich. The police chief clarified later that the man was German and Iranian citizenship. He lived a long time in Munich. “Longer than two years” – stated when asked by journalists.
Andra stressed that at this stage of the investigation can not be resolved, whether the act was a terrorist attack, or rather a freak of a madman. “We can not yet say anything about the motives” – reserved commandant. “For now, we can say that it was a shooting,” – he added.
The body of the bomber was found in the street near the shopping center. Earlier, media reported that they were found in the park one kilometer from the crime scene. The man was carrying a red backpack, the same as the person firing the clients of McDonald’s restaurants in the mall.
The police feared that the backpack can be a bomb, therefore, to examine the contents of a police robot was used, which made the operation much stretched in time.
During the shooting of 21 people were injured. 16 of them are still hospitalized. The status of three injured is still heavy – said Andra. Among the wounded there are also children among the dead and minors. 100 people in the time of the shooting remained in the building, they included psychological care.
In Munich, she began again to run public transportation – subway, buses and trams. 1.5-million-dollar city is slowly returning to life.
Police found the situation to be “acute terrorist threat” (German. Akut Terrorlage). Munich sent an elite counter-terrorism unit GSG9 and other special units, including the new branch BFE + created after the attacks in France. The operation in Munich, also took part 42 officers of an elite unit of the Austrian police Cobra. The support of the authorities in Vienna asked the German side. The action was attended by 2,300 policemen and officers.
Witnesses events initially claimed that the assassination took part three armed persons. A police spokesman confirmed that officers pursued “up to three people” armed with long arms.
Television stations showed parts of the recording of a mobile phone, showing a man in black shooting at people before entering the restaurant. According to one of the witnesses, the bomber was screaming “shitty foreigners …”. Another witness testified that the attackers shouted slogans against the Turks.
The first shots fell in the chair. 17.52 in McDonald’s restaurants in the Olympia Shopping Centre in the north of the city – said the police spokesman in Munich Thomas Baumann. In located near the center of the Olympic Stadium is 135 shops, restaurants and cafes. This is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Bavarian capital. On Friday evening, the center is visited by a very large number of customers.
“We do not know where the perpetrator” – gave police on Twitter. Officers with guns at the ready scoured the area in which they could be bombers. Passers-by fled in panic from the affected place. Helicopters circled over the city police. Doctors and nurses called in Munich to hospitals.
Do not confirmed the information about the shootings in and around the mall Stachus in the center of the city. The news of the shooting in the vicinity of one of Munich’s editorial staff also turned out to be untrue. While at the airport in Munich arrested one person. According to ARD, stop had no direct connection with the shooting.
Police appealed to residents to avoid public places and to stay home. She asked also on Twitter, not to post online any photos or videos of police action in the Olympia shopping center, where there was a shooting. “We do not support the perpetrators!” – Called for.
The head of the German Ministry of the Interior Thomas de Maiziere, who was on Friday en route to the US, he decided to return immediately to the country. He announced that Saturday will come to Munich.
On Saturday at noon in Berlin will meet federal security cabinet made up of representatives of the ministries responsible for the security of the country. Events in Munich is the second in a few days the incident motivated terrorism. On Monday, 17-year-old Afghan attacked passengers on a train in Wuerzburgiem and wounded five people.
The Presidents of the United States and France offered to the German authorities all the support they need after the shooting.
“We do not know yet what exactly happens, but of course our thoughts are with those who can relate wounds” – said on Friday Barack Obama. He added that “Germany is one of the closest allies of the US, so we will offer all the support you may need to face the situation.”
In turn, the Elysee Palace said that President Francois Hollande gave “personal message of support,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
German President Joachim Gauck said he was “deeply shocked” murderous attack.
From Berlin Jacek Lepiarz
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