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Hanau shooting: 11 dead after attacks on shisha bars in German town | Hanau shooting: 11 dead after attacks on shisha bars in German town |
(32 minutes later) | |
Suspect and one other person found dead after nine killed in attacks earlier on two cafes 25km east of Frankfurt | Suspect and one other person found dead after nine killed in attacks earlier on two cafes 25km east of Frankfurt |
At least 11 people have been killed – including the suspect – and others seriously injured after two shootings at shisha bars in the German town of Hanau, according to local police. | At least 11 people have been killed – including the suspect – and others seriously injured after two shootings at shisha bars in the German town of Hanau, according to local police. |
Nine people died in the attacks on the two bars at around 10pm on Wednesday night, police said. | Nine people died in the attacks on the two bars at around 10pm on Wednesday night, police said. |
A huge hunt was launched for the perpetrator involving dozens of armed police and a helicopter hovering above the commuter town 25km east of Frankfurt. | A huge hunt was launched for the perpetrator involving dozens of armed police and a helicopter hovering above the commuter town 25km east of Frankfurt. |
Police then tweeted at around 5am local time that special police force officers had stormed the home of the alleged suspect and found him dead along with another body. | Police then tweeted at around 5am local time that special police force officers had stormed the home of the alleged suspect and found him dead along with another body. |
“One of the dead people is most likely the culprit,” police said in a statement. “There are currently no indications of other perpetrators. Investigations into the identity of the victims and the suspected perpetrator are ongoing.” | “One of the dead people is most likely the culprit,” police said in a statement. “There are currently no indications of other perpetrators. Investigations into the identity of the victims and the suspected perpetrator are ongoing.” |
Officers sealed off and searched the apartment in Hanau’s Kesselstadt district, near the scene of one of the shootings, after following up witness statements on a getaway car. | Officers sealed off and searched the apartment in Hanau’s Kesselstadt district, near the scene of one of the shootings, after following up witness statements on a getaway car. |
Local police initially said that five people had been seriously injured, but later confirmed that eight people were “fatally wounded” in shootings at around 10pm local time and a major operation had been launched. | Local police initially said that five people had been seriously injured, but later confirmed that eight people were “fatally wounded” in shootings at around 10pm local time and a major operation had been launched. |
According to local media, eight or nine shots were fired at the Midnight shisha bar on Heumarkt in the centre of the town. | According to local media, eight or nine shots were fired at the Midnight shisha bar on Heumarkt in the centre of the town. |
A dark vehicle was seen leaving the scene. Soon afterwards, shots were fired at a second shisha bar – the Arena Bar & Café in Kurt-Schumacher-Platzin the western Kesselstadt district. | A dark vehicle was seen leaving the scene. Soon afterwards, shots were fired at a second shisha bar – the Arena Bar & Café in Kurt-Schumacher-Platzin the western Kesselstadt district. |
Police initially said eight people had died but later updated the figure to say that nine had been killed in the two attacks. | Police initially said eight people had died but later updated the figure to say that nine had been killed in the two attacks. |
At least five people were believed very seriously injured in the attacks. It was not clear whether the ninth fatality was one of those injured earlier. | At least five people were believed very seriously injured in the attacks. It was not clear whether the ninth fatality was one of those injured earlier. |
Initial reports of a third incident in the district of Lamboy were denied by police. | Initial reports of a third incident in the district of Lamboy were denied by police. |
Police said on Wednesday night they had no confirmed information on the background of the two attacks and appealed for witnesses to come forward. | |
Federal prosecutors said Thursday they were taking charge of the investigating the shooting amid reports that the suspect may have had a far-right motive. Newspaper Bild said he had expressed extreme rightwing views in a letter of confession he left behind. The Guardian could not confirm this. | |
The Federal Prosecutors Office in Karlsruhe, which handles serious crimes, said it planned to hold a news conference later Thursday. | |
“Thoughts this morning are with the people of Hanau, in whose midst this terrible crime was committed,” German chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said on Twitter. | “Thoughts this morning are with the people of Hanau, in whose midst this terrible crime was committed,” German chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said on Twitter. |
“Deep sympathy for the affected families, who are grieving for their dead,” the spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said. “We hope with those wounded that they will soon recover.” | “Deep sympathy for the affected families, who are grieving for their dead,” the spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said. “We hope with those wounded that they will soon recover.” |
Hanau’s federal MP, Katja Leikert, called the attack a “horrific scenario” in a tweet in which she offered her “heartfelt condolences” to the victims. | Hanau’s federal MP, Katja Leikert, called the attack a “horrific scenario” in a tweet in which she offered her “heartfelt condolences” to the victims. |
The mayor of the town, Claus Kaminsky, said it was the “worst evening imaginable”. | The mayor of the town, Claus Kaminsky, said it was the “worst evening imaginable”. |
Hanau, which is in southwestern Germany, about 20 km (12 miles) east of Frankfurt, has a population of about 100,000. | Hanau, which is in southwestern Germany, about 20 km (12 miles) east of Frankfurt, has a population of about 100,000. |
Reports of the shooting come just days after one person was shot dead and four more were injured outside a Berlin music venue. The shooting in the German capital occurred last Friday near the Tempodrome, which was hosting a Turkish comedy show on the night. The motives behind the Berlin attack have remained unclear. | Reports of the shooting come just days after one person was shot dead and four more were injured outside a Berlin music venue. The shooting in the German capital occurred last Friday near the Tempodrome, which was hosting a Turkish comedy show on the night. The motives behind the Berlin attack have remained unclear. |