By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies
Munich, Germany – An armed 18-year-old Austrian man was shot dead by German police on Thursday near the Nazi documentation centre and the Israeli consulate in Munich, after a tense exchange of fire. The shooting occurred close to the location of a memorial service marking the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, raising concerns that the consulate may have been the intended target.
The Israeli consulate was closed at the time for the memorial, which honored the 11 Israeli athletes and a policeman killed by the Palestinian militant group Black September 52 years ago. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann suggested a possible connection between the attack and the anniversary, although investigations are ongoing.
The suspect, armed with a long firearm, was identified as an Austrian national from Salzburg. Police officers engaged with the gunman after he was seen carrying the weapon near the consulate and Nazi documentation centre. Five officers opened fire on him, killing him at the scene. Fortunately, no one inside the consulate was harmed.
Munich police chief Thomas Hampel revealed that the suspect was carrying a vintage hunting rifle. Authorities in Austria had previously investigated the young man in 2022 for suspected radicalization, and reports indicated that Islamic State (IS) propaganda was found on his mobile phone. The reports have not yet been confirmed by Austrian prosecutors.
In response to the incident, police cordoned off the area surrounding Karolinenplatz and Briennerstrasse, advising residents and office workers to remain indoors. A police helicopter circled the area, and the public was asked not to share images of the incident on social media to avoid further complications during the investigation.
The Nazi documentation centre in Munich, located on the former site of the Nazi party’s headquarters, has been a focal point for remembrance and education on the atrocities committed by the Third Reich. The site, along with the Israeli consulate, has been a symbol of Germany’s commitment to addressing its dark past.
Authorities stated that no other suspects were involved in the incident. After the shooting, security was heightened at Munich’s main synagogue, underscoring concerns over rising antisemitism in Germany. Israeli Consul Talya Lador praised the quick response of the police and emphasized the growing threat of hate crimes targeting Jewish and Israeli institutions.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack, calling it a “hate-fuelled terrorist” act. He expressed sorrow that the event took place on a day meant to honor the memories of those murdered during the 1972 Olympics.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Jewish and Israeli institutions, describing the incident as tragic due to its location in front of the Nazi documentation centre and the Israeli consulate.
The investigation continues, and both German and Austrian authorities are working to determine the full motive behind the attack.