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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)
11.28pm BST
23:28
There were reports earlier in local media that about 20 people had been injured. Police have confirmed “at least 10” are injured but said the situation is still not clear:
We know of at least 10 injured persons. Police operations are still running. The Situation is still not clear.#gunfire #munich
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at 11.32pm BST
11.25pm BST
23:25
Kate Connolly
Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator, is allowing people to sleep in stationary night trains, and numerous mosques across Munich are staying open all night to offer shelter to those who have nowhere to go.
As Elena Cresci mentioned earlier, the hashtag #OffeneTür is being used on Twitter to provide shelter to people.
11.19pm BST
23:19
Kate Connolly
Flags will fly at half mast on official buildings across Germany on Saturday. The country’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière – currently flying back from New York – will head straight to Munich on Saturday morning to form his own impression of events.
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11.14pm BST
23:14
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, is to convene a meeting of the country’s security council on Saturday to address the shootings, her chief of staff Peter Altmaier has said.
He told ZDF public television that Merkel was being “constantly briefed” on developments. “The cabinet ministers concerned are on their way to Berlin,” he said.
Beyond the chancellor and her chief of staff, the German security council includes the ministers for foreign affairs, defence and interior affairs as well as other top officials. Altmaier said the council would compile and evaluate the available information.
“We are determined to do everything we can so that terror and inhuman violence stand no chance in Germany,” Agence France-Presse quoted him as saying.
“Our thoughts are with the victims of the attack, with their loved ones and also with the police who are defending freedom and security.”
Merkel had been due to start holidays in the Alps. Her interior minister, Thomas de Maizière – who was on a flight to New York when the shootings began – is reported to be heading back to Berlin.
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11.00pm BST
23:00
The Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said his prayers are with those affected by the “horrible attacks”.
This cannot continue. The rise of terrorism threatens the way of life for all civilised people, and we must do everything in our power to keep it from our shores.
10.48pm BST10.48pm BST
22:4822:48
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.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.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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at 10.51pm BST at 11.05pm BST
10.43pm BST10.43pm BST
22:4322:43
Police are requesting that any photos or videos that could help them be sent in: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/29Df0qGgM6Important:Please don't publish Fotos/Videos of #gunfire #Munich.Please help us and send these files to us underhttps://t.co/29Df0qGgM6
A police spokesman has said that around 100 eyewitnesses who have come forward and are being looked after by officers, as well as giving them statements.
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at 10.50pm BST at 11.11pm BST
10.35pm BST10.35pm BST
22:3522:35
Kate ConnollyKate 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.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.
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at 10.36pm BSTat 10.36pm BST
10.26pm BST10.26pm BST
22:2622:26
Nice: Mosques in Munich open all night for everyone stuck because of road blocks https://t.co/Cc6KCTSd9lNice: Mosques in Munich open all night for everyone stuck because of road blocks https://t.co/Cc6KCTSd9l
10.25pm BST10.25pm BST
22:2522:25
A witness, Luan Zequiri, said he was at the scene when the shooting broke out near the McDonald’s restaurant.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 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.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 restaurant.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.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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at 10.46pm BSTat 10.46pm BST
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
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at 10.45pm BSTat 10.45pm BST
9.51pm BST9.51pm BST
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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 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.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 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.”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 [when a teenager attacked train passengers with an axe three days ago] 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 [Anders Behring] 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.”
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at 10.45pm BSTat 10.45pm BST
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 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.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 10.41pm BSTat 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 – but are checking – if 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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at 10.39pm BSTat 10.39pm BST
9.33pm BST9.33pm BST
21:3321:33
Jon SwaineJon Swaine
Speaking at the United Nations in New York, Boris Johnson, the British 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.
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at 10.38pm BSTat 10.38pm BST
9.30pm BST9.30pm BST
21:3021:30
Kate ConnollyKate Connolly
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 350Tagesthemen, 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
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.37pm BSTat 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
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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:
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at 10.36pm BSTat 10.36pm BST