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Several Killed In Munich Shootings

July 22, 2016
by RFE/RL

At least eight people have been killed in a shooting rampage at a shopping center in the German city of Munich, in what authorities suspect was a terrorist attack.

Authorities were looking for three suspects behind the shooting at the Olympia Einkaufszentrum shopping center on July 22, which has prompted a state of emergency in the city and a massive police operation.

"Sad news: the number of dead has risen to eight," Munich police said on Twitter. Police added that there was an "unknown number of injured people."

In a statement, Munich police said "the suspects are still on the run" and urged people to stay in their homes or, if outside, to seek shelter indoors.

Police said witnesses reported seeing three people with firearms in nearby streets as well as inside the shopping center.

The motives of the shooters are also unclear.

"I had no idea where to run, no time to think where to go, I just started running with everyone, running on the road, even though there were cars on the road, it was quite chaotic," Fabian Burkhardt, a 31-year-old doctoral student, told RFE/RL.

Burkhardt was at Karlsplatz square in the city center, where he said he saw hundreds of people screaming and running in every direction.

"Scared is definitely the right word. I had this sense of panic, but then after several meters, I tried to think about, tried to think that it's not the right moment to panic."

German President Joachim Gauck condemned the "murderous attack in Munich," adding that he feels "connected to those who are in the field to protect people and save lives."

The White House condemned "in the strongest terms" the attack. "We do know that this heinous act has killed and injured multiple individuals in the heart of one of Europe's most vibrant cities," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.

Germany's Muenchner Abendzeitung newspaper reported that up to 15 people were killed in the attack.

German magazine Focus cited police sources as saying one of the gunmen had shot himself in the head and died.

Munich police spokesman Thomas Baumann told Germany's dpa news agency that the attack began at a fast food restaurant in the shopping center shortly before 18:00 local time.

Video from German news agency NonstopNews showed two bodies with sheets draped over them not far from a McDonald's across from the mall.

A video posted online, whose authenticity could not be confirmed, showed a man dressed in black outside a McDonalds restaurant by the roadside, drawing a handgun and shooting at people.

The Bild newspaper reported that one of the gunmen ran through the shopping center near the Olympic stadium, firing on people before escaping in the direction of a metro station.

Dozens of staff were still hiding in the shopping center.

Police closed off a large area around the shopping center after the shooting.

Television images showed dozens of emergency vehicles outside the shopping center.

Munich transport authorities said they had halted several bus, train, and tram lines.

Based on reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/munich-shooting/27874157.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.