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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 2 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| But German security officials say lone-wolf attackers are particularly challenging to track and are often unknown to authorities until it is too late. | But German security officials say lone-wolf attackers are particularly challenging to track and are often unknown to authorities until it is too late. |
| The suspect in Wednesday's shooting was identified as Tobias Rathjen, 43. | The suspect in Wednesday's shooting was identified as Tobias Rathjen, 43. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Authorities said they were investigating whether Rathjen had ties to any organized groups, but police said they were not searching for further suspects. | Authorities said they were investigating whether Rathjen had ties to any organized groups, but police said they were not searching for further suspects. |
| In a grimly familiar pattern, he appears to have posted videos and documents espousing his views, thick with conspiracy theories and rants against immigrants. | In a grimly familiar pattern, he appears to have posted videos and documents espousing his views, thick with conspiracy theories and rants against immigrants. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| 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 on the German soccer association. | |
| 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, a man addresses the camera in what he says is a "message" to Americans. | |
| "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." | "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." |
| A second video, shared by the ICSR, shows a man speaking to the camera in the same bedroom. He mixes far-right conspiracies on the white race being "replaced" with other theories. | |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| Police said the shooter sped off in a dark vehicle before targeting a second venue, Arena Bar and Cafe. | |
| A man identified as Iskander M by the Turkish television channel that interviewed him said he heard shots outside before an attacker 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.” | 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. | Souad Mekhennet in Washington contributed to this report. |
| Gunman live-streamed attack outside German synagogue that left two dead | Gunman live-streamed attack outside German synagogue that left two dead |
| Germany’s far right is set to challenge Angela Merkel’s grip in upcoming elections | Germany’s far right is set to challenge Angela Merkel’s grip in upcoming elections |
| Synagogue attacker hoped to inspire further anti-Semitic attacks, German authorities say | Synagogue attacker hoped to inspire further anti-Semitic attacks, German authorities say |
| Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world |
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