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Germany shooting: Gunman kills two after attacking synagogue | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two people have been shot dead by a gunman in eastern Germany after he attempted to enter a synagogue where dozens were observing a Jewish holiday. | |
The suspect live-streamed the attack on an online video-game platform before being arrested. | |
The video, which has now been removed, showed him making anti-Semitic comments to camera before driving to a synagogue in Halle and shooting into its door. | |
After failing to get in, the gunman shot dead two people nearby. | |
The suspect is a 27-year-old German who acted alone, according to local media. | |
"According to the federal prosecutor there are sufficient indications for a possible right-wing extremist motive," German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said. | |
Videos from the scene appear to show the suspect wearing military-type clothing and using several weapons in the attack. | |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has attended a memorial vigil for the victims at Berlin's main synagogue. | |
How did the attack unfold? | |
The attack happened in the city of Halle at about 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Wednesday. | |
Max Privorotzki, leader of the local Jewish community, said the attempted attack on the synagogue was captured on a surveillance camera. | |
"We saw via the camera system at our synagogue that a heavily-armed perpetrator with a steel helmet and a gun tried to shoot open our doors," he told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper. | |
"The man looked like he was from the special forces... But our doors held." | |
Mr Privorotzki said about 70 or 80 people were inside at the time. | |
After apparently becoming frustrated at failing to get in, the suspect then allegedly shot into the street and killed a woman close to the synagogue, before killing a man in a local kebab shop. | |
A witness at the shop told German N-tv news that the gunman was wearing camouflage when he opened fire on the venue. | |
"The man came up to the doner shop, he threw something like a grenade, it didn't explode, and he opened fire with an assault rifle. I hid in the toilet," the witness said. | |
Two injured people with gun wounds have had surgery at the city's university hospital, a spokesman told AFP news agency. | |
What is known about the attacker? | |
Police say the suspect was arrested after fleeing the scene. He has not been officially named but local media suggest he is a 27-year-old German man. | |
Initial reports suggested other people may have been involved, but a local police lockdown has now been lifted. | |
Video-game platform Twitch has confirmed the suspect broadcast the attack on their online streaming website. | |
"We worked with urgency to remove this content and will permanently suspend any accounts found to be posting or reposting content of this abhorrent act," a spokeswoman told Reuters. | |
The video the suspect posted showed him making misogynistic and anti-Semitic statements to the camera - including denying the Holocaust. | |
The attack came as Jews observed Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day. | |
"That on the Day of Atonement a synagogue was shot at hits us in the heart," Foreign Minister Heiko Maas posted on Twitter. "We must all act against anti-Semitism in our country." | |
Security was boosted at other German synagogues following news of the attack and vigils were held on Wednesday evening. | |
A minute's silence was also held for the victims in the European Parliament in Brussels. | |
The EU's President, Jean Claude Juncker, said in a statement that the EU stands "in solidarity" with the Jewish community. | |
"I am shocked by the brutal attacks in Halle - on this day, Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims." | |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the shooting as a "terror attack" and warned anti-Semitism was on the rise in Europe. | |
"I urge German authorities to continue to act resolutely against the phenomenon of anti-Semitism," Mr Netanyahu tweeted. | |
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