March 11, 2023bcnn1wp

FORMER JEHOVAH’S WITNESS, PHILIPP F., KILLS SEVEN JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES INCLUDING AN UNBORN CHILD AT A JEHOVAH’S WITNESS HALL THEN KILLS HIMSELF

[1/8] Police officers work at the scene of a deadly shooting at a building housing a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, in Hamburg, northern Germany, March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
FORMER JEHOVAH’S WITNESS, PHILIPP F., KILLS SEVEN JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES INCLUDING AN UNBORN CHILD AT A JEHOVAH’S WITNESS HALL THEN KILLS HIMSELF

 

  • Police were warned about gunman but let him keep weapon
  • Gunman used legally-owned weapon, had stash of ammunition Shooter was former Jehovah’s Witness, motive unknown: officials
  • Germany has suffered several mass shootings in recent years

HAMBURG, March 9 (Reuters) – A gunman in Germany shot dead six people before killing himself at a Jehovah’s Witness worship hall in Hamburg, authorities said on Friday, in an attack that is bound to renew calls for stricter gun controls.

Eight other people were wounded, including a seven-months pregnant woman who lost her unborn daughter, police and prosecutors said at a news conference.

Officials said they had been tipped off about the perpetrator but had not taken away his legally-owned gun before the shooting at an event on Thursday night.

Police officers in special equipment on duty in Hamburg.

The killer’s motive remained unknown but a political reason had been ruled out, the officials said.

Authorities identified the gunman only as Philipp F. The 35-year-old, a German citizen and former Jehovah’s Witness, began shooting through a window at the hall, where dozens of people were gathered, before entering.

He shot himself on the first floor when police arrived minutes after the shooting started shortly after 9:00 p.m. (2000 GMT), the police said.

Germany has suffered a number of mass shootings in recent years as well as a plot by a heavily armed group that aimed to overthrow the government. Following the previous shootings, Germany introduced stricter gun ownership rules and the government has announced plans to tighten controls further.

The Hamburg shooter was known to police, who had visited his apartment prior to the attack in response to an anonymous tip raising concerns about his state of mind. But they did not have enough grounds to take away his weapon, a legally-held semi-automatic pistol made by German company Heckler & Koch, officials said.

Source: Reuters, Riham Alkousaa, Jan Schwartz