A teenage German-Iranian gunman killed nine people in a shooting rampage at a busy Munich mall and then committed suicide with the German police saying that he likely acted alone. 21 people were wounded as the gunman brought terror to Germany's third largest city on Friday evening, the third attack on civilians in Europe in eight days.
A teenage German-Iranian gunman killed nine people in a shooting rampage at a busy Munich mall and then committed suicide with the German police saying that he likely acted alone. 21 people were wounded as the gunman brought terror to Germany's third largest city on Friday evening, the third attack on civilians in Europe in eight days.
"The perpetrator was an 18-year-old German-Iranian from Munich," police chief Hubertus Andrae told reporters, adding that he had no criminal record. On Saturday, the German police said they had no evidence that the gunman had any links to the Islamic State group and described the attack as "a classic act by a deranged person."
The police had initially believed that there were up to three assailants. But Andrae later said two others had "absolutely nothing to do" with the attack -- and that they were simply fleeing the scene.
Munich's main train station was evacuated and metro and bus transport suspended for several hours while residents were ordered to stay inside, leaving the streets largely deserted. By early Saturday, transport services were running again.
(AFP)
1. People evacuated from the mall
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People are evacuated from the area around the shopping mall Olympia Einkaufzentrum OEZ in Munich after the gunman went on a shooting rampage. The city was in lockdown after the shootings, which saw panicked shoppers fleeing the Olympia mall as armed anti-terror police roamed the streets in search of the assailants. (Photo courtesy - AFP)
2. Hostages move to safety
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Evacuated people from the shopping mall walk away from it with their hands up. (Photo courtesy - AFP)
3. Officers in action
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A screen grab taken from video footage shows plain clothes police officers taking cover in the car park of the Olympia shopping mall during shooting rampage. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
4. Near Stachus Square
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Police secures the area near Stachus Square following shooting in Munich. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
5. One of the victims
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A covered body lying in a street following a shooting rampage at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich. In addition to determining the motive, police will have to find out how the 18-year-old got the firearm used in the attack in a country whose gun control system is described by the US Congress Library as being "among the most stringent in Europe." (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
6. Woman outside the mall reacts to the shooting
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A woman reacts following a shooting rampage at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich.
Survivors described terrifying scenes as shoppers rushed from the area, some carrying children in their arms. "We entered McDonald's to eat... then there was panic, and people ran out," one woman told Bavarian television.
(Photo courtesy - Reuters)
7. KATWARN, a civil defence app
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A warning message distributed by the German civil defence app KATWARN informing about a shooting rampage at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich, is pictured on a mobile phone. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
8. In remembrance
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A pedestrian hands flowers to a policeman to place it near the Olympia shopping mall a day after the shooting. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
9. Police chief at press conference
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Munich's deputy police chief Werner Feiler, police chief Hubertus Andrae and spokesman Marcus da Gloria Martins (L to R) address a news conference. Andrae said investigations had not given any reason to believe there was more than one perpetrator and attacker had "no link whatsoever to the topic of refugees". He said there was no reason not to visit Munich or to cancel events for security reasons. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
10. 'Why?'
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A sign reading 'Why?' and flowers placed on a wall near the Olympia shopping mall. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
