Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya Madhushani Jade Times Staff
V.E.K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering
Incident Occurs Amid Heightened Security on Anniversary of 1972 Munich Olympics Attack
An armed man was shot dead by German police near the Nazi documentation center and Israeli consulate in Munich. The suspect, identified by authorities as an 18 year old Austrian national, was killed during an exchange of gunfire with police officers.
The incident unfolded when police spotted the individual carrying a long firearm in the area. A confrontation ensued, with five officers exchanging fire with the suspect. At the time of the shooting, the Israeli consulate was closed for a memorial service commemorating the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, where 11 Israeli athletes and a German police officer were killed by members of the Palestinian militant group Black September.
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann suggested that the shooting might be connected to the anniversary, with authorities later indicating that they believed the consulate was the intended target. Police confirmed that there were no signs of other suspects involved in the incident.
According to Austrian authorities, the suspect from Salzburg had been investigated last year on suspicion of radicalization. Austrian news agency APA reported that Islamic State propaganda had been found on his mobile phone, though this was not confirmed by Salzburg prosecutors. Munich police chief Thomas Hampel stated that the man was armed with a vintage hunting rifle. Reports from German media indicated that the suspect was known to security services for allegedly supporting violent Islamist groups, though police declined to comment on these claims.
Following the incident, cordons were set up around Karolinenplatz and Briennerstrasse, areas near the city center, and residents and workers in nearby buildings were advised to stay indoors. A police helicopter was seen patrolling the area, and the public was urged not to share images of the scene on social media.
The documentation center for the history of National Socialism in Munich, which opened nine years ago on the former site of the Nazi Party's headquarters, is located close to the incident. Authorities raised security measures at Munich’s main synagogue as a precaution.
Israeli Consul Talya Lador expressed gratitude for the swift response from the police and highlighted the ongoing dangers posed by rising antisemitism. Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack, noting the tragic timing on a day meant to honor the memory of the athletes killed 52 years ago. He stated, "On the day our brothers and sisters in Munich were set to stand in remembrance of our brave athletes murdered by terrorists 52 years ago, a hate fuelled terrorist came and once again sought to murder innocent people."
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized that the protection of Jewish and Israeli institutions remains a top priority, describing the location of the incident near the Nazi documentation center and Israeli consulate as deeply unfortunate.
