At least nine people have died after a ‘shooting rampage’ in a German shopping centre.
Munich was put on lockdown as counter-terrorism police carried out a
huge manhunt for the gunman, later discovered to have shot himself in
the head.
People were urged to stay indoors and the city’s metro network
was shut down as police described the scene as a ‘rampage’ at the
Olympia mall this afternoon.
Footage from the scene shows a man firing shots as people flee.
Further video shared on Twitter showed people running away, with an
evacuation in place and the surrounding roads closed off.
Paramedics battle to save victims
Bodies lay on the ground outside
Police confirmed that at least nine people were killed, with an
unknown number injured, adding they were trying to ascertain if the
ninth fatality was one of the attackers.
Staff in the shopping centre were still in hiding, an employee told
Reuters. ‘Many shots were fired, I can’t say how many but it’s been a
lot,’ the employee, who declined to be identified, said from inside the
mall.
‘All the people from outside came streaming into the store and I only
saw one person on the ground who was so severely injured that he
definitely didn’t survive.
An attacker was said to be on the shopping centre roof
‘We have no further information, we’re just staying in the back in the storage rooms. No police have approached us yet.’
Police warned people to avoid the area. ‘At this time we have a major
operation underway. Please avoid the area of the shopping centre,’ the
local force posted online.
People leave the Olympia mall in Munich
Evacuated people from the shopping mall
A photo showed a man lying on the ground outside the centre (Picture: Twitter/Marsmensch)
German media said doctors and hospitals had been placed on high alert to expect casualties.
British nationals in Germany were advised to comply with instructions from local authorities.
‘Avoid this location and follow the advice of local authorities,’ a Foreign Office spokesman said.
Thamina Stoll, studying at university in Munich, tweeted footage from the scene.
‘Helicopter, sirens and people on the street #Munich #shooting #OEZ #München,’ she said.
Fire fighters gathering at the entrance
‘At least 30 police cars on their way to
#Munich #shoppingmall according to local radio station. Area around mall
blocked by police.’
An official at the Munich Olympia Shopping Centre declined comment, saying only, ‘We are experiencing a problem.’
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: ‘I
am shocked and appalled by the terrible attack unfolding this evening in
Munich, and the loss of life.
‘My thoughts are with those injured and the families of those killed. We stand ready to assist our friends in Germany.’
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said
she would work with Germany to bring those responsible for the
‘horrific’ attack to justice.
Germany had been on high alert since five people were stabbed on a train to Bavaria on Monday.
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