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Munich shooting: police hunt continues as death toll rises to nine - live Munich shooting: police hunt continues as death toll rises to nine - live
(35 minutes later)
10.48pm BST
22:48
There are now unconfirmed reports in local media that about 20 people are injured; some of them very gravely. Earlier, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, said that local authorities were doing all they could to save lives.
Also, it is reported that the bag referred to earlier is a backpack that appears to match the one the shooter at McDonald’s was carrying. Police are reportedly preparing to use a robot to investigate it.
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10.43pm BST
22:43
Police are requesting that any photos or videos that could help them be sent in:
Important:Please don't publish Fotos/Videos of #gunfire #Munich.Please help us and send these files to us underhttps://t.co/29Df0qGgM6
Updated
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10.35pm BST
22:35
Kate Connolly
Local media are putting out unconfirmed reports that a 15-year-old girl is among the dead and that injured children have been admitted to children’s hospitals in Munich.
Updated
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10.26pm BST
22:26
Nice: Mosques in Munich open all night for everyone stuck because of road blocks https://t.co/Cc6KCTSd9l
10.25pm BST
22:25
A witness, Luan Zequiri, said he was at the scene when the shooting broke out near the McDonald’s restaurant.
He told the German broadcaster N-tv that he heard the attacker yell an anti-foreigner slur and “there was a really loud scream”.
He said he saw only one attacker, who was wearing boots and a backpack. Zequiri said: “I looked in his direction and he shot two people on the stairs.” Zequiri then hid and made his escape when the way was clear.
10.18pm BST10.18pm BST
22:1822:18
Kate ConnollyKate Connolly
According to local media, the ninth dead person is believed by police to be one of the killers. His body was found 45 minutes ago on a green stretch near the Olympia shopping centre; 1km away from the scene of the crime.According to local media, the ninth dead person is believed by police to be one of the killers. His body was found 45 minutes ago on a green stretch near the Olympia shopping centre; 1km away from the scene of the crime.
The veteran police reporter Oliver Bendixen told Tagesthemen that the body found was believed to be that of the perpetrator who opened fire in front of the Mcdonald’s. But police want to approach his body with great caution, believing there might be explosives in a bag. They are going to send a robot to investigate his body, Bendixen said. The veteran police reporter Oliver Bendixen told Tagesthemen that the body found was believed to be that of the perpetrator who opened fire in front of the McDonald’s restaurant.
But police want to approach his body with great caution, believing there might be explosives in a bag. They are going to send a robot to investigate his body, Bendixen said.
The police have not confirmed these reports.The police have not confirmed these reports.
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10.00pm BST10.00pm BST
22:0022:00
Munich police are now adding that one person appears to have killed themselves. They are checking whether or not they are one of the attackers.Munich police are now adding that one person appears to have killed themselves. They are checking whether or not they are one of the attackers.
Il y a aussi un suicidant. On éprouve la complicité. #München, #oez, #schießereiIl y a aussi un suicidant. On éprouve la complicité. #München, #oez, #schießerei
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.08pm BST at 10.45pm BST
9.51pm BST9.51pm BST
21:5121:51
Peter Altmaier, Angela Merkel’s closest adviser, has just told the local TV programme Tagesthemen that no theories are being excluded.Peter Altmaier, Angela Merkel’s closest adviser, has just told the local TV programme Tagesthemen that no theories are being excluded.
He said that the attack was terrible and that the thoughts of the German chancellor were with the relatives of the victims. Altmaier added that the state of Bavaria and the federal government were working closely together to try to limit the number of deaths. He said the attack was terrible and the thoughts of the German chancellor were with the relatives of the victims. Altmaier added that the state of Bavaria and the federal government were working closely together to try to limit the number of deaths.
Altmaier praised the work of Bavaria’s police, but said that the operation was still very much underway, and would work through the nightAsked about evidence of an Islamist background, he said: “We’re excluding nothing but there’s no clarity at this stage, and we know nothing for sure”. Altmaier praised the work of Bavaria’s police, but said the operation was still very much under way, and would carry on through the night.Asked about evidence of an Islamist background, he said: “We’re excluding nothing but there’s no clarity at this stage, and we know nothing for sure.”
The show’s presenter, Thomas Roth, asked Altmaier: “We always hoped Germany would be spared such an attack. Then we had Würzburg and now this - what has changed regarding Germany’s security situation?” The show’s presenter, Thomas Roth, asked Altmaier: “We always hoped Germany would be spared such an attack. Then we had Würzburg [when a teenager attacked train passengers with an axe three days ago] and now this – what has changed regarding Germany’s security situation?”
Altmaier replied: “We always said that such a threat should be expected ... and that we should do all we can to prevent it. Five years ago, Norway suffered an attack by Breivik.... We know that terrorism is there, and an Islamist terrorism, which tries to attack as many people as possible. Altmaier replied: “We always said that such a threat should be expected ... and that we should do all we can to prevent it. Five years ago, Norway suffered an attack by [Anders Behring] Breivik ... we know that terrorism is there, and an Islamist terrorism, which tries to attack as many people as possible.
“We understand now that the perpetrator of Nice did not work on his own, which only brings home to us how aware we need to be, and how closely together we need to work. We can’t talk down this risk ... So, we need to give our security people the means they need to fight this ... We did this after 9/11, and we will continue to do so in the future.” “We understand now that the perpetrator of Nice did not work on his own, which only brings home to us how aware we need to be, and how closely together we need to work. We can’t talk down this risk ... so, we need to give our security people the means they need to fight this ... we did this after 9/11, and we will continue to do so in the future.”
UpdatedUpdated
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9.46pm BST9.46pm BST
21:4621:46
Kate ConnollyKate Connolly
Asked if this was a terror attack, a police spokesman said: “If a man with a gun in a shopping centre opens fire and eight people are dead, we have to work on the assumption that this was not a normal crime and was a terrorist act.”Asked if this was a terror attack, a police spokesman said: “If a man with a gun in a shopping centre opens fire and eight people are dead, we have to work on the assumption that this was not a normal crime and was a terrorist act.”
He confirmed that the police were looking for three perpetrators and said officers were getting support from elite units but have not found any weapons.He confirmed that the police were looking for three perpetrators and said officers were getting support from elite units but have not found any weapons.
Police have no evidence that the danger zone is any further than the area around the Olympia shopping centre. But, until the situation is clear, they are urging people to stay at home. Police have no evidence that the danger zone extends any further than the area around the Olympia shopping centre. But, until the situation is clear, they are urging people to stay at home.
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at 9.50pm BST at 10.41pm BST
9.38pm BST9.38pm BST
21:3821:38
Kate ConnollyKate Connolly
Police are now saying that there are nine people are dead. They do not know at this stage - and are checking - whether the additional person is one of the gunmen. Police are now saying that there are nine people are dead. They do not know at this stage – but are checking – if the additional person is one of the gunmen.
Police are still searching the OEZ, described as a “gargantuan building”. All the shoppers and shop assistants are now said to have been evacuated but police are still searching the building in case shooters are still in there.Police are still searching the OEZ, described as a “gargantuan building”. All the shoppers and shop assistants are now said to have been evacuated but police are still searching the building in case shooters are still in there.
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9.33pm BST9.33pm BST
21:3321:33
Jon SwaineJon Swaine
Speaking at the United Nations in New York, Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, has said: Speaking at the United Nations in New York, Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, has said:
Everybody is shocked and saddened by what has taken place. Our thoughts are very much with the victims, their families, with the people of Munich, and the people of Germany more widely.Everybody is shocked and saddened by what has taken place. Our thoughts are very much with the victims, their families, with the people of Munich, and the people of Germany more widely.
If, as seems very likely, this is another terrorist incident, then I think it proves once again that we have a global phenomenon now and a global sickness that we have to tackle both at source – in the areas where the cancer is being incubated in the middle east – and also of course around the world. If, as seems very likely, this is another terrorist incident, then I think it proves once again that we have a global phenomenon now and a global sickness that we have to tackle both at source – in the areas where the cancer is being incubated in the Middle East – and also of course around the world.
Updated
at 10.38pm BST
9.30pm BST9.30pm BST
21:3021:30
Kate ConnollyKate Connolly
Tagesthemen, the flagship evening news programme, has given the following emergency numbers:Police information line - 089 29101910Number for missing persons - 0800 77 66 350 Tagesthemen, the flagship evening TV news programme, has given the following emergency numbers:Police information line - 089 2910 1910Number for missing persons - 0800 77 66 350
Updated
at 10.37pm BST
9.30pm BST9.30pm BST
21:3021:30
Death toll rises to eight Death toll rises to eight.
“Sad news: The number of dead rises to eight,” say police in a tweet: “Sad news: the number of dead rises to eight,” say police in a tweet:
Sadly there are eight fatal casualties now.#gunfire #munich #oezSadly there are eight fatal casualties now.#gunfire #munich #oez
UpdatedUpdated
at 9.31pm BST at 10.38pm BST
9.27pm BST9.27pm BST
21:2721:27
What we know so farWhat we know so far
Jon HenleyJon Henley
What we do knowWhat we do know
What we don’t know:What we don’t know:
UpdatedUpdated
at 9.37pm BST at 10.36pm BST
9.20pm BST
21:20
The German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere, who was on a flight to the United States for a holiday, is interrupting his trip and heading home, the DPA news agency reported.
Chancellery staff met on Friday evening to assess the situation in Munich but Chancellor Angela Merkel was not present, DPA said.
9.19pm BST
21:19
The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called the news from Munich “shocking”. He said: “My thoughts are with the people of the city at this time.”
Monitoring the horrific situation in Munich. We stand with our friends in Germany as they work to bring those responsible to justice. -H
Updated
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9.12pm BST
21:12
Facebook has set up a safety check for people to let their loved ones know they are ok.
And police have set up a hotline for people wanting to check on the status of family and friends:
Wichtige Tel-NrDie zentrale Auskunfts- und Vermisstenstelle für Angehörige (GAST) erreicht Ihr unter0800 7766350#Schießerei #münchen #oez
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at 9.13pm BST
9.05pm BST
21:05
Kate Connolly
Germany’s elite unit GSG9 has flown in to Munich. Members – armed and masked but dressed otherwise unassumingly in T-shirts, trainers and shorts – were spotted in the vicinity of the local police who were on the scene within minutes of the first emergency call having been received.
Bavaria’s interior minister, Joachim Hermmann, and Bavaria’s prime minister, Horst Seehofer, were holding a crisis meeting this evening.
The city has set up a separate crisis team.
Updated
at 9.07pm BST
9.03pm BST
21:03
Kate Connolly
Cars on the autobahn into and out of Munich have been asked to leave it to free up the road for emergency vehicles.
Hospitals throughout Munich are on emergency alert with staff, including doctors, surgeons and nurses, having been called in to await any casualties.
Among the parts of the city to be evacuated was Munich Central Station. People are reported to have screamed and scrambled over railway platforms as the police ordered them to leave the station.
The same station was a focal point last summer and autumn during the refugee crisis, when hundreds of thousands of refugees arrived in the city via Austria and Hungary, into the southern German capital. Many were greeted by locals, who welcomed them with food, water and cuddly toys, in moving scenes that went around the world.
Germany accepted around 1.1 million refugees last year after chancellor Angela Merkel said the country would not turn anyone away.
Updated
at 9.11pm BST
8.36pm BST
20:36
#MUNICH UPDATE Significant slowdown in posts on IS-linked Telegram channels as news spread that the attack may be another group's handiwork.
A Munich police spokesman says there is no indication of Islamist terror.
8.32pm BST
20:32
Six dead, German police say
German police have confirmed that there was a shooting in Hanauer Street, adjacent to the shopping centre. Six people have been killed and an unknown number injured.
“We are telling the people of Munich there are shooters on the run who are dangerous,” a spokesman told reporters, adding that the police were looking for three perpetrators. “We are urging people to stay indoors.”
[1/1] Unknown number of injured victims - sadly there are six fatal casualties #gunfire #munich
[2/2] Other crime scenes than Hanauer Str. can not be confirmed #gunfire #munich
Updated
at 8.53pm BST
8.16pm BST
20:16
The Bavarian broadcaster BR is reporting that six people have been killed. This has not been officially confirmed by the authorities.
Police have said that, while they do not yet know the motive, terrorism is suspected.
8.07pm BST
20:07
The US president, Barack Obama, has pledged support for Germany.
We don’t yet know exactly what’s happening there, but obviously our hearts go out to those who may have been injured. We are going to pledge all the support they may need.
Updated
at 8.53pm BST
8.04pm BST
20:04
Vikram Dodd
Two past atrocities involving marauding shooting attacks led western police and security forces to review their tactics and plans to deal with such events.
The first was the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, India, which began with marauding gunmen shooting their way across parts of the city popular with tourists. In that attack, the terrorists took hostages at three locations, before armed forces ended the siege. In the UK, weaponry and tactics for armed law enforcement were changed in response to Mumbai.
The second attack to provoke a review was in Paris last November, when multiple gun men killed 130 people. In that attack, so-called soft targets were struck while people were dining and enjoying music on a Friday evening.
Senior security officials described the Paris attacks as a “game changer” showing the capability of terrorists to wreak carnage was at the upper end of what officials feared.
The threat of a marauding terrorist attack has been feared for years in Europe. Both Islamic State and al-Qaida are known to have planned them.
Authorities have worked on knowing where attackers are in a dynamic, dangerous and confused situation and how to best rush armed assets to where the terrorists are.
Knowing what is going on can be immensely difficult for the authorities. In the UKm police have staged training exercises assessing how they would cope with marauding gun attacks. Across Europe, police and security services were monitoring the unfolding situation in Munich.
Updated
at 8.20pm BST