This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/death-toll-in-germany-shootings-climbs-to-11-including-alleged-suspect/2020/02/20/16feb5a6-53b3-11ea-80ce-37a8d4266c09_story.html
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| ‘Xenophobic’ motive behind deadly shootings at German hookah bars, prosecutor says | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| BERLIN — Germany's federal prosector said Thursday that a "xenophobic" motive is suspected in overnight shootings killed 10 people dead, followed by the suicide of the suspected perpetrator, and targeted patrons gathered in hookah bars. | |
| A spokesman for the Office of the Public Prosecutor General said it has taken over the investigation after nine people were killed in shootings at two establishments in Hanau, about 15 miles east of Frankfurt, on Wednesday night. | A spokesman for the Office of the Public Prosecutor General said it has taken over the investigation after nine people were killed in shootings at two establishments in Hanau, about 15 miles east of Frankfurt, on Wednesday night. |
| The body of the suspected attacker, and that of another person who security officials said was his mother, were found in his home in early Thursday. Police did not provide any additional information but said there were "no indications of further perpetrators." | The body of the suspected attacker, and that of another person who security officials said was his mother, were found in his home in early Thursday. Police did not provide any additional information but said there were "no indications of further perpetrators." |
| Peter Beuth, the regional interior minister, told reporters that prosectors have classified the incident as a "suspected terroristic act of violence." | Peter Beuth, the regional interior minister, told reporters that prosectors have classified the incident as a "suspected terroristic act of violence." |
| 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. | 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. |
| “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. | “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. |
| Lounges and cafes where customers gather to smoke waterpipes, also known as hookahs, are popular with Germans of Middle Eastern origin. The German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) said some of the victims had migrant backgrounds. | Lounges and cafes where customers gather to smoke waterpipes, also known as hookahs, are popular with Germans of Middle Eastern origin. The German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) said some of the victims had migrant backgrounds. |
| At least eight killed in mass shooting in Germany; suspect found dead at home, police say | At least eight killed in mass shooting in Germany; suspect found dead at home, police say |
| German police have stepped up their monitoring of far-right groups since an attack on a synagogue in Halle in October, adding hundreds of officers to track fringe extremists. When the gunman in that shooting failed to get through the door to the synagogue, he turned his homemade weapon on passersby and opened fire at a nearby kebab shop. | German police have stepped up their monitoring of far-right groups since an attack on a synagogue in Halle in October, adding hundreds of officers to track fringe extremists. When the gunman in that shooting failed to get through the door to the synagogue, he turned his homemade weapon on passersby and opened fire at a nearby kebab shop. |
| This week, German police they arrested 12 members of a far-right group planning attacks on mosques and targets associated with refugees and migrants. | This week, German police they arrested 12 members of a far-right group planning attacks on mosques and targets associated with refugees and migrants. |
| In Wednesday night’s attack, shots were fired at two different locations in Hanau at around 10 p.m., police said. Police swarmed the area and helicopters circled overhead as authorities said they were initially searching for “unknown perpetrators.” A dark vehicle was seen driving away from the scene of the first shooting in the town center. Police appealed for witnesses to come forward. | In Wednesday night’s attack, shots were fired at two different locations in Hanau at around 10 p.m., police said. Police swarmed the area and helicopters circled overhead as authorities said they were initially searching for “unknown perpetrators.” A dark vehicle was seen driving away from the scene of the first shooting in the town center. Police appealed for witnesses to come forward. |
| That first shooting took place at a hookah bar called “Midnight,” according to German news reports. Three people were shot dead there, local broadcaster Hessenschau reported, adding that a total of eight or nine shots were fired. Germany’s Bild newspaper reported that Kurdish immigrants were among those killed. | That first shooting took place at a hookah bar called “Midnight,” according to German news reports. Three people were shot dead there, local broadcaster Hessenschau reported, adding that a total of eight or nine shots were fired. Germany’s Bild newspaper reported that Kurdish immigrants were among those killed. |
| 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 the red police tape, at least one car was visible, covered in thermal foil with its windows shattered. | 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 the red police tape, at least one car was visible, covered in thermal foil with its windows shattered. |
| As authorities continued their investigation overnight, police urged the public to refrain from circulating unverified videos, texts and voice messages, saying that “speculation does not help us any further.” | As authorities continued their investigation overnight, police urged the public to refrain from circulating unverified videos, texts and voice messages, saying that “speculation does not help us any further.” |
| Katja Leikert, who represents the Hanau district in Germany’s national parliament, the Bundestag, called the shooting a “horrific scenario.” | Katja Leikert, who represents the Hanau district in Germany’s national parliament, the Bundestag, called the shooting a “horrific scenario.” |
| 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!! | 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!! |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| Hanau Mayor Claus Kaminsky told the Bild newspaper that it was “barely possible to imagine a worse evening.” | Hanau Mayor Claus Kaminsky told the Bild newspaper that it was “barely possible to imagine a worse evening.” |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| Reis Thebault in Washington and Luisa Beck in Berlin contributed to this report. | Reis Thebault in Washington and Luisa Beck in Berlin contributed to this report. |
| Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world |
| Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news | Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news |