The shock in Hamburg is great after several people were killed and injured in a shooting late Thursday evening in the “Kingdom Hall” of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The mayor expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and promised clarification.
The first shots were fired around 9 p.m. and the police received many calls immediately afterwards, German media report. According to information from the Bild newspaper, seven people were killed and eight injured, including some seriously injured. 17 other people are said to have survived the massacre unharmed, they were cared for by the fire brigade.
Perpetrator likely among the dead
The shooter is also believed to be among the dead: “There are indications that it could be the perpetrator,” the police said at night. “As the current state of affairs, we assume there is a perpetrator. Police measures in the area are gradually being phased out. Investigations into the background to the crime are ongoing,” the Hamburg officials tweeted.
Buurman reported four shooting periods
A neighbor reported several shots at the Jehovah’s Witnesses event. “It was about four shooting periods. During these periods, several shots were always fired, with an interval of about 20 seconds to a minute,” student Lara Bauch said late Thursday evening. “I then looked further out the window and saw a person running frantically from the ground floor to the first floor at the Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Later, police officers carried people onto the street on hands and feet. Four hours after the fatal shots, the forensic team finally entered the crime scene at night.
Patrol cars with blue lights had cordoned off the crime scene in the evening. Agents with submachine guns also secured the area. Immediately after the shots, all the windows of the building were brightly lit, a helicopter hovered in the sky, countless ambulances were parked in the streets.
An official danger announcement by the Hamburg Ministry of the Interior spoke of an “extreme danger”. The police turned to citizens and asked them to use the phone only in emergencies so that the lines do not collapse. In addition, all residents must seek shelter in buildings.
“Deep Sympathy”
Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) was appalled by the shots fired at the Jehovah’s Witnesses event. “The messages from Alsterdorf/Großbrush are shocking,” Tschentscher wrote on Twitter. “My deepest condolences go out to the families of the victims. The emergency services are working hard to track down the perpetrators and clear up the background.” Tschentscher called on citizens to follow the instructions of the police.
Immediately expressions of grief also came from other religious communities: “In Hamburg, several people fell victim to a brutal crime. Much is still unclear. We are shocked. Let’s pray together,” the Archdiocese of Hamburg tweeted.
Christian community with its own interpretation of the Bible
The Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian community with its own interpretation of the Bible. The followers believe in Jehovah as “God Almighty and Creator” and are supposed to submit to strict regulations. They are convinced that a new world is near and that they will be saved as a chosen church. Jehovah’s Witnesses have about eight million members worldwide. The “world headquarters” is in New York. With less than 200,000 members, the German community is one of the largest in Europe.
Source: Krone
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