At least seven people were killed and eight injured in a shooting at a Jehovah's Witness church in the German city of Hamburg during a religious service.
Police in the northern German city believe that one of the dead was the perpetrator of the shooting:
In the current state of affairs we assume that one was the perpetrator. Police measures in the area will be progressively lifted. Investigations continue.
The suspect, according to the newspaper Spiegel, is a former member of the Jehovah's Witness community in his 30s or 40s whom authorities have not classified as an extremist. Hamburg police believe there was just a single perpetrator of the shooting. Authorities will update full details at a press conference at noon local time on Friday.
#hh0903 #Pressekonferenz
Zu dem gestrigen Großeinsatz in #GroßBorstel/ #Alsterdorf ist für heute um 12 Uhr eine Pressekonferenz im Polizeipräsidium #Hamburg geplant.#Pressemitteilung: https://t.co/IXVN8BKrKh— Polizei Hamburg (@PolizeiHamburg) March 10, 2023
According to information shared by the German public broadcaster DW, police received reports of a shooting around 9 p.m. local time. Upon arrival to the church, located in the south of the city, several people were found at the scene with gunshot wounds.
The mayor of Hamburg, Peter Tschentscher, described what happened in the city as horrific and declared that "The emergency services are working hard to track down the perpetrator(s) and to clarify the background." German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser was also shocked by the incident.
The reports from Alsterdorf / Groß Borstel are shocking. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. The emergency services are working hard to track down the perpetrator(s) and to clarify the background. Please note the instructions of [Hamburg Police].
Die Meldungen aus Alsterdorf / Groß Borstel sind erschütternd. Den Angehörigen der Opfer gilt mein tiefes Mitgefühl. Die Einsatzkräfte arbeiten mit Hochdruck an der Verfolgung des / der Täter & der Aufklärung der Hintergründe. Bitte beachten Sie die Hinweise der @PolizeiHamburg. https://t.co/38UcdguLzH
— Peter Tschentscher (@TschenPe) March 9, 2023
I am shocked by the terrible act of violence in a community of Jehovah's Witnesses in #Hamburg. My thoughts are with the victims, their families & community members. The backgrounds are being investigated with high pressure. Many thanks to [Hamburg Police] & rescuers.
Ich bin erschüttert über die furchtbare Gewalttat in einer Gemeinde der Zeugen Jehovas in #Hamburg. Meine Gedanken sind bei den Opfern, ihren Angehörigen & den Gemeindemitgliedern. Die Hintergründe werden mit Hochdruck ermittelt. Vielen Dank an @PolizeiHamburg & Rettungskräfte.
— Nancy Faeser (@NancyFaeser) March 10, 2023
