Taking pictures at Germany Kingdom Corridor for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg leaves 8 lifeless together with unborn child and gunman

A Thursday night time capturing at a Jehovah’s Witnesses corridor within the German metropolis of Hamburg left eight folks lifeless, together with a former member of the congregation recognized because the shooter, police mentioned Friday. 4 males and two ladies have been killed, together with one who was pregnant. Her unborn 28-week-old child additionally died.

Police recognized the gunman on Friday as single former church member Phillip F., and mentioned there was no indication of a terrorist motive. 

Police had informed CBS Information beforehand that the shooter was contained in the constructing your complete time and there was no manhunt at any level. When officers arrived, the shooter had already died by suicide. 

The police didn’t give any indication of a suspected motive as they briefed journalists Friday morning concerning the capturing that shocked Germany’s second-biggest metropolis.

German journal Der Spiegel first reported that the suspect was “mentioned to have been a former member of Jehovah’s Witnesses… between 30 and 40 years previous.”

Police confirmed Friday that the gunman used a semi-automatic pistol that he was licensed to personal. They mentioned there was an nameless letter despatched to the police pressure a number of years in the past claiming the suspect was mentally unstable and had proven animosity for spiritual followers, and {that a} evaluation of his firearms licensing was carried out.

They mentioned when questioned, Phillip F. was cooperative and gave no indication of any psychological well being issues, in order that they closed the case. He was a sports activities marksman.

Mass-shootings are uncommon in Europe, the place gun possession legal guidelines are typically a lot stricter than in lots of U.S. states. There’s a lengthy and strict course of in Germany to acquire a allow for a handgun. 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a former Hamburg mayor, described the capturing as “a brutal act of violence.”

Investigators labored by the night time to safe proof. On Friday morning, forensic investigators in protecting white fits might nonetheless be seen outdoors the constructing as a light-weight snow fell. Officers positioned yellow cones on the bottom and windowsills to mark proof.

David Semonian, a U.S.-based spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, informed The Related Press in an emailed assertion early Friday that members “worldwide grieve for the victims of this traumatic occasion.”

“The congregation elders within the native space are offering pastoral look after these affected by the occasion,” he wrote. “We perceive that the authorities are nonetheless investigating the small print of this crime. We admire the brave assist supplied by the police and emergency companies.”

Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher tweeted that the information was “stunning” and provided his sympathy to the victims’ family. 

The scene of the capturing was the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Kingdom Corridor, a contemporary and boxy three-story constructing subsequent to an auto restore store.

Police spokesman Holger Vehren mentioned police have been alerted to the capturing about 9:15 p.m. and have been on the scene shortly. On Friday morning, police confirmed they’d obtained virtually 50 emergency calls concerning the capturing.

Vehren mentioned after officers arrived and located folks with obvious gunshot wounds on the bottom ground, they heard a shot from an higher ground and located a fatally wounded individual upstairs who they suspected was a shooter. He mentioned police didn’t have to make use of their firearms.

Pupil Laura Bauch, who lives close by, mentioned “there have been about 4 intervals of capturing,” German information company dpa reported. “There have been at all times a number of pictures in these intervals, roughly at intervals of 20 seconds to a minute,” she mentioned.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are a part of a global church, based in the US within the nineteenth century and headquartered in Warwick, New York. It claims a worldwide membership of about 8.7 million, with about 170,000 in Germany.

Members are identified for his or her evangelistic efforts that embody knocking on doorways and distributing literature in public squares. The denomination’s distinctive practices embody a refusal to bear arms, obtain blood transfusions, salute a nationwide flag or take part in secular authorities.

CBS Information’ Anna Noryskiewicz in Berlin contributed to this report.