Thanuja Jayani, JadeTimes Staff
T. Jayani is a JadeTimes news reporter covering Europe
An 18 year old Austrian national was shot dead by German police near the Nazi Documentation Centre and the Israeli Consulate in Munich. The individual, who was armed with a vintage hunting rifle, engaged in a gunfight with officers after being spotted carrying the firearm. The Israeli Consulate was closed at the time due to a memorial service marking the 52nd anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, in which 11 Israeli athletes and a police officer were killed by Palestinian militants.
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann indicated that while the motive for the incident was not immediately clear, it could be connected to the anniversary. He suggested that the armed man might have intended to target an "Israeli institution." Police have not identified any additional suspects and have reported no injuries to consulate staff.
Munich police chief Thomas Hampel confirmed that the man was carrying a long firearm. Although there were media reports suggesting he was previously known to security services for possible links to violent Islamist groups, police did not confirm these details.
Authorities established cordons around Karolinenplatz and Briennerstrasse, urging residents and workers in nearby buildings to stay indoors. The police are continuing to investigate the situation and have cautioned against speculation. A police helicopter was deployed to the area, and the public was advised not to share images of the incident on social media.
In response to the shooting, security measures were heightened at Munich's main synagogue. Israeli Consul Talya Lador praised the police response, highlighting the dangers posed by rising antisemitism. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed horror and condemnation of the attack, emphasizing the timing of the incident on the anniversary of the 1972 attack. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser underscored the importance of protecting Jewish and Israeli institutions and lamented the incident's occurrence near both the Nazi Documentation Centre and the Israeli Consulate.
