Man shot dead by Munich police as German minister says protecting Israeli institutions is highest priority
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Loading... - Albert Stewart
- 05 Sep 2024
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A fatal shooting incident occurred in Munich, Germany, on Thursday, near a museum on the city's Nazi-era history and the Israeli Consulate. Police exchanged fire with a suspect, who was fatally wounded, in the Karolinenplatz area. According to a police spokesperson, officers were alerted to a person carrying a "long gun" at around 9 a.m., and an exchange of shots ensued, resulting in the suspect's death.
There was no immediate information on the suspect's identity or motive, but Bavaria's top security official, state Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, stated that the suspect had opened fire at police, who returned fire. The incident occurred on the 52nd anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, which resulted in the deaths of 11 Israeli team members, a West German police officer, and five assailants. However, it is unclear whether the two events are related.
Police increased their presence in the city, but there was no indication of any other incidents or suspects. Five officers were at the scene when the gunfire erupted, and none of them were hurt. The Israeli Consulate, which was closed at the time of the shooting, reported that none of its staff were injured. The nearby Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism also confirmed that all its employees were unharmed.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and they jointly condemned the shooting. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the incident as "serious" but refrained from speculating on the motives. She reiterated that "the protection of Jewish and Israeli facilities has the highest priority."
