Gunman attacks Munich shopping centre

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Sunday, July 24, 2016

At least nine people were killed, 27 injured, by gunfire at the Olympia shopping centre in Munich, Germany, on Friday, according to Munich police.

The body of an 18-year-old Munich-born German-Iranian male, named in media reports as Ali David Sonboly or David Ali Sonboly, who was alleged to have been the attacker was found one kilometre from the shopping centre and, the police said, potentially had links with Norwegian serial killer Anders Behring Breivik. Police discovered a 9mm gun, 300 bullets, and "[d]ocuments on shooting sprees". Al-Jazeera reported Munich was put under a state of emergency.

File photo of the Olympia shopping centre.
Image: Bauhaus-Jünger.

Per a Facebook statement by German police, gunfire was reported near Hanauer Street and Ries Street during local evening on Friday before moving to the shopping centre. Police said the attacker was treated for depression, and the gun did not belong to him.

Police said they suspected the attacker used a fake account to invite people to the McDonald's restaurant where much of the incident occurred.

Peter Altmaier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff, told German broadcaster ARD "All that we know and can say right now is that it was a cruel and inhumane attack". Thomas de Maiziere, German Interior Minister, returned to Berlin from the United States to meet security officials. US president Barack Obama offered to help Germany with the investigation. Police said they believe the attacker was not linked to Islamic State. De Maiziere said reports suggested the attacker may have been bullied.

People of Turkey, Greece, and Kosovo were killed in the attack.

On July 14, Bastille Day, there was a mass killing by a truck in Nice, France.


Sources