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After Germany shooting tied to far-right, Merkel says ‘racism is a poison’ the country must overcome After Germany shooting tied to far right, Merkel says ‘racism is a poison’ the country must overcome
(about 4 hours later)
BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said Germany must overcome the "poison" of racism after a gunman apparently inspired by far-right extremism killed nine people at two hookah bars. BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday condemned the "poison" of racism in the country after a gunman, apparently fueled by extremist right-wing views and conspiracy theories, killed nine people in two hookah bars.
In a televised speech, Merkel said that while it is too early for a final assessment of Wednesday night's shootings in the town of Hanau, about 15 miles east of Frankfurt, there were many indications that the perpetrator acted with right-wing extremist, racist motives. The Wednesday night attack in the town of Hanau, about 15 miles east of Frankfurt, left Germany reeling as it grapples with a far-right resurgence. It marked the deadliest mass shooting in the country since a gunman killed nine people in Munich in 2016.
It was around 10 p.m. that the perpetrator, who authorities said was a licensed gun owner, opened fire on patrons at a hookah bar called Midnight in central Hanau. In a televised speech, Merkel said that while it was too early for a final assessment of the shooting, there were many indications that the perpetrator acted with extremist right-wing, racist motives.
Police said the suspect sped off in a dark vehicle before opening fire at a second venue, Arena Bar and Cafe.
Such lounges and cafes, where customers gather to smoke waterpipes, also known as hookahs, are popular with residents of Middle Eastern origin. Of the people killed, five held Turkish citizenship, Turkey's state news agency Anadolu reported, citing Ankara's ambassador to Berlin.
Not long after the twin shootings, authorities said the suspect was found dead in his home along with his mother. In a grimly familiar pattern, videos and documents had been posted online, thick with conspiracy theories and rants against immigrants.
At least eight killed in mass shooting in Germany; suspect found dead at home, police say
Wednesday’s shootings were the deadliest in Germany since a mass shooting that killed nine people in Munich in 2016. The Hanau attacks also follow a string of violent incidents with links to the far-right.
"Racism is a poison; hate is a poison," Merkel said. "This poison exists in our society, and it's to blame for too many tragic events.""Racism is a poison; hate is a poison," Merkel said. "This poison exists in our society, and it's to blame for too many tragic events."
In June, a politician known as a vocal supporter of asylum seekers was shot dead. In October, a shooter tried to attack a synagogue in the German city of Halle on Yom Kippur, turning his homemade weapon on passersby and a nearby kebab shop after he failed to gain entry. The shooting sites appeared to have been targeted because of their clientele. The two establishments, where people gather to smoke water pipes known as hookahs, are popular with patrons of Middle Eastern origin.
German authorities said they have stepped up their monitoring of far-right groups. Earlier this week, police said they had arrested 12 members of a far-right group planning attacks on mosques and targets associated with refugees and asylum seekers, drawing inspiration from last year’s mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, that killed more than 50 people. Of the people killed, five held Turkish citizenship, Turkey's state news agency Anadolu reported, citing Ankara's ambassador to Berlin. Prosecutors said the victims included German and foreign nationals between the ages of 21 and 44.
The suspect in Wednesday’s shootings was identified in German press reports as Tobias R., 43. Police and prosecutors said they could not comment on reports that the shooter left behind documents and video that indicated a confused, extreme-right, anti-immigrant ideology. The Hanau attack followed several violent incidents with links to the far right over the past year. In June, a politician known as a vocal supporter of asylum seekers was shot dead. In October, a shooter tried to attack a synagogue in the German city of Halle on Yom Kippur, turning his homemade weapon on passersby and a nearby kebab shop after he failed to gain entry. He killed two people.
“Not everyone who has a German passport is purebred and valuable,” read one document purported to have been written by the suspect that was shared by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College London, which said it has confirmed the document’s authenticity. “I can imagine cutting the population in half.” German authorities said they have stepped up their monitoring of far-right groups. Last week, police raids resulted in the arrest of 12 members of such a group planning attacks on mosques and targets associated with refugees and asylum seekers. The foiled plots seemed to draw inspiration from last year’s mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, that killed more than 50 people.
A senior German security official confirmed that a rambling video posted online last week is being investigated, as it is believed to show the suspect. In it, the man addresses the camera in what he says is a "message" to Americans. But German security officials say lone-wolf attackers are particularly challenging to track and are often unknown to authorities until it is too late.
"Your country is under control of invisible secret societies," he said, warning about "mind-control" and the "mainstream media." He called on U.S. citizens to "fight now." The suspect in Wednesday's shooting was identified as Tobias Rathjen, 43.
Germany is facing efforts to "split the country" Merkel said, adding that her thoughts were with the families of the victims. "We do not differentiate citizens by origin or religion." Not long after the twin attacks, authorities said the suspect was found dead in his home alongside his 72-year-old mother. His father was outside and unharmed, prosecutors said.
Germany's federal prosector said Thursday that a "xenophobic" motive is suspected in the overnight shootings. After the body of the suspected attacker was found in his home, police said there were "no indications of further perpetrators." Authorities said they were investigating whether Rathjen had ties to any organized groups, but police said they were not searching for further suspects.
Peter Beuth, the regional interior minister, told reporters that prosectors have classified the incident as a "suspected terroristic act of violence." In a grimly familiar pattern, he appears to have posted videos and documents espousing his views, thick with conspiracy theories and rants against immigrants.
Police swarmed the town of just under 100,000 people on Wednesday night as the shooting unfolded, while helicopters circled overhead. Authorities said they were initially searching for “unknown perpetrators” and appealed for witnesses to come forward. “Not everyone who has a German passport is purebred and valuable,” reads one document posted on a website under Rathjen’s name. “I can imagine cutting the population in half.”
Three people were shot dead at the Midnight hookah bar, local broadcaster Hessenschau reported, adding that a total of eight or nine shots were fired. The International Center for the Study of Radicalization (ICSR) at King’s College London said it has confirmed the authenticity of the document and others on the site, which included rambling missives on “strategies” for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the German soccer association.
Shortly thereafter, five people were fatally shot in the Kesselstadt area just west of the town center, it said. Images from the scene showed police cordons and an ambulance outside the Arena Bar and Cafe. Behind red police tape, at least one car was visible, covered in thermal foil with its windows shattered. A senior German security official said that a video posted online last week is being investigated, as it is believed to show the suspect. In it, the man addresses the camera in what he says is a "message" to Americans.
“Racism is a cancer,” tweeted Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin. He said he expected German authorities to maximize efforts to shed light on the incident. "Your country is under control of invisible secret societies," he says, warning about "mind control" and the "mainstream media." He calls on U.S. citizens to "fight now."
Katja Leikert, who represents the Hanau district in Germany’s national parliament, the Bundestag, called the shooting a “horrific scenario.” A second video, shared by the ICSR, shows the suspect speaking to the camera in the same bedroom. He mixes far-right conspiracies on the white race being "replaced" with other theories.
In dieser fürchterlichen Nacht in #Hanau wünsche ich den Angehörigen der Getöteten viel Kraft und herzliches Beileid. Den Verletzten eine hoffentlich schnelle Genesung. Es ist ein echtes Horrorszenario für uns alle.Danke an alle Einsatzkräfte!! "One part of the video contains some traditional far-right narratives around race and immigration, but in the other half the attacker goes into much more surreal and less tangible conspiracy theories," the ICSR said. "Overall, he is very paranoid and delusional."
“On this terrible night in Hanau I send those close to the victims all my strength and heartfelt condolences,” she said on Twitter. “Hopefully the injured recover swiftly. It is a horrific scenario for us all. Thanks to emergency services.” He ends with "Wahrheit macht frei," meaning "the truth sets you free" but also an allusion to the Nazi slogan on the gates of Auschwitz, "Arbeit macht frei," or "work sets you free."
Hanau Mayor Claus Kaminsky told the Bild newspaper that it was “barely possible to imagine a worse evening.” It was around 10 p.m. that Rathjen, who authorities said was a licensed gun-holder, allegedly opened fire on patrons at Midnight, a hookah bar in central Hanau.
“This was a terrible evening,” he said, “that I am sure we will be dealing with and remembering with sadness for a long, long time.” Police said the suspect sped off in a dark vehicle before targeting a second venue, Arena Bar and Cafe.
Reis Thebault in Washington contributed to this report. A man identified as Iskander M by the Turkish television channel that interviewed him said he heard shots outside before the suspect entered the cafe and started shooting everyone in sight.
The man said that he was shot in the shoulder and that customers piled on the floor in a panic. “The boy underneath me had a bullet hole in his neck,” he said. “He told me, ‘I can’t breathe, and I can’t feel my tongue.’ I told him he should say a prayer, which is what he did.”
Souad Mekhennet in Washington contributed to this report.
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