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Suspect in Hanau shisha bar shootings reportedly expressed right-wing

Feb 20, 2020 | Studies & Reports

German shootings: Federal prosecutors take over Hanau investigation — live updates

European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies – ECCI

DW – German police are examining a letter and video claiming responsibility for a shooting at two Hookah bars in the town of Hanau. Prosecutors say there are indications of a far-right motive. Follow the developments live.

  • Attacks at two hookah bars in the city of Hanau left nine people dead and four injured.
  • The suspected perpetrator was later found dead at his home along with another corpse.
  • The main suspect allegedly expressed far-right views in a letter of confession.
  • Federal prosecutors have taken over the investigation due to the severity of the case.

All updates are in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC)

08:40 Interior minister Horst Seehofer will not be attending a meeting on digitalization, according to a spokesperson.

08:21 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cancelled a planned visit to the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. “The Chancellor is being continuously updated on the investigation in Hanau,” wrote Government spokesman Steffen Seibert on Twitter.

08:10 Foreign minister Heiko Maas expressed sympathy for the relatives of the victims. “The terrible events in #Hanau hurts all of us,” he tweeted. “Following this terrible night our thoughts are with the dead, their families and relatives. We wish the injured a speedy recovery,” added Maas.

08:00 Seibert said on Twitter that “deep condolences go out to the families who are grieving for their dead.”

07:54 German media are reporting that the body found in the same apartment as the suspect was his mother.

07:50 The suspect uploaded a video to Youtube in the days before the attack. The man spoke of a “message to all Americans” in fluent English. He claimed there were underground military facilities in the US where children were abused and killed. The clip was still visible to view on the platform on Thursday morning.

07:45 Federal prosecutors announced they would take over the investigation due to the severity of the case. A spokesperson said there were “indications of a far-right motive.”

07:40 Police were examining a letter of confession and a video found at the suspect’s home. Local media are reporting that this expressed a far-right motive.

07:30 Late on Wednesday night a perpetrator opened fire at a Hookah bar in Hanau’s downtown, killing three people, before driving to the neighborhood of Kesselstadt and opening fire at a second hookah bar, where five people died.

Authorities sealed off the areas where the shooting took place and later traced the suspect back to his home where they found him dead. Another corpse was also found in the house.

European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies – ECCI

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