In Munich, a police operation resulted in a fatal shooting of a man near a museum showcasing the city’s Nazi-era history and the Israeli Consulate. The incident occurred after reports of an individual carrying a “long gun” in the Karolinenplatz area of downtown Munich around 9 a.m. Police engaged in gunfire with the suspect, leading to the suspect’s death, with no other reported injuries, according to police spokesperson Andreas Franken.
The identity and motive of the suspect remain unknown, but it was mentioned that the man was armed with an old firearm with a repeating mechanism. Bavaria’s state Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann stated that the suspect initiated the gunfire towards the police, prompting them to return fire.
The incident, which unfolded on the 52nd anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack by Palestinian militants on the Israeli delegation, causing the deaths of 11 Israeli team members, a West German police officer, and five assailants, raised concerns, although any direct connection remains unclear. Police stated that there were no indications of additional suspects related to the shooting and heightened security measures across the city were implemented as a precaution.
Five officers were present at the scene during the exchange of fire, and subsequent reinforcements were dispatched by the police. Both the Israeli Consulate in Munich and the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism confirmed that their staff remained unharmed during the incident.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog communicated with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, expressing mutual condemnation and shock over the shooting. Meanwhile, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser labeled the event as a “serious incident” and emphasized the utmost priority of safeguarding Jewish and Israeli facilities.
The consulate announced it was closed at the time of the shooting, ensuring none of its employees were injured. Authorities did not provide further details on the ongoing investigation.
