WarSclerotic

UPDATE 2141 BST — Munich Police: Potential 9th Person Dead, May Be Attacker or Accomplice

In a tweet, Munich police say they are investigating whether a ninth person killed is one of the gunmen; police previously stated they believed up to three attackers were on the loose.

UPDATE 2138 BST — White House Condemns ‘Apparent Terrorist Attack’

White House Press Secretary Joshua Earnest has released a statement, asserting that Washington “condemns in the strongest terms” the “apparent” terrorist attack in Munich.

 

UPDATE 2134 BST — Witness Says Gunmen Appeared to Target Children, 8 Dead

Those still in the shopping center currently under siege have reportedly been told to leave the center with their hands up.

Police have now confirmed eight deaths.

UPDATE 2130 BST — CNN Reports Witnesses Heard ‘Allahu Akbar’ Shouts

An eyewitness identifying herself as a Muslim tells CNN she heard shouts of “Allahu Akbar” as shots rang out, confirmed that she heard correctly because “I am a Muslim.” 

UPDATE 2124 BST — US Consulate in Munich warns citizens to stay away

The Consulate also advises individuals to avoid plazas and public squares until police life the state of emergency in the city.

UPDATE 2100 BST — Müncheners urged to ‘check in’ after terror attack 
Police have called for people in Munich to go on Facebook and check in to the emergency system Facebook created to help locate people in terror attacks and natural disasters.

UPDATE 2035 BST — Latest from Munich Police — 6 Dead
Munich police have officially declared six dead in the shootings so far. A police spokesman speaking to media earlier said:

“What I can tell you is there was an incident at the OEZ [Olympia], we have sent police and all emergency services there. What happened, at the moment there are three attackers… we have at the moment 100 people on site and we are trying to evacuate around 100 people”. The spokesman said he could not answer questions about the identities of the attackers, that the injured were in “double figures” and warned Müncheners to stay indoors.
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UPDATE 2030 BST — ISIS-linked communications channel praises attack A journalist with the pan-Arabic Al Aan Satelite TV network has tweeted screenshots of what she claims is an “ISIS propaganda channel” which has not claimed responsibility. The messages, which appear to come from a Whatsapp group read: “Munich so far not claimed by Islamic State. But everything hurting infidels make us happy”.

UPDATE 2020 BST — ‘At Least 6 Dead’ says European agency The European news agency AFP has reported there are at least six dead in the ongoing Munich ‘terror’ attack with three shooters still at large. No confirmation yet on motives for attack.

UPDATE 2000 BST — Video of emergency services tending to wounded
A video showing stretchers being prepared to take wounded and an injured man lying supine with a sheet over his body has been uploaded to Twitter.

UPDATE 1940 BST — Well-meaning Müncheners opening their doors to strangers in wake of terror attack
Munich residents have been using the hashtag #offenetür (open door) to offer their hospitality to people unable to get home amid the chaos in the city.

However, others have pointed out the inherent danger in opening doors to strangers at a time when gunmen are on the loose, warning people to take precautions before they open the door.

UPDATE 1935 BST — Second Terror Attack in Munich in 2016 
German police are reportedly now treating the shooting as a terror attack. Breitbart London reported in May about another terror attack in the German city of Munich, where one died and three were injured.

The attacker reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he stabbed his fellow passengers on a train. Read more.

UPDATE 1925 BST — Updates from Munich Police 

Munich police have posted a series of tweets which appear to suggest that gun fire is being heard elsewhere in the city, including mentions of a “shootout” at approximately 18:50pm. They are repeating advice to avoid public areas warning “the suspects are still on the run,” but are underscoring that the situation remains “confusing”.

A Police statement stated:

“At 17.50 o’ clock witnesses came forward at the police station and reported a shooting in the area of Hanau Street. Witnesses report three different people with guns.

“Type and number of victims is unknown. The police are using all available forces with the support of special forces, the federal police and neighbouring [forces].

“At the moment no perpetrators have been arrested… Due to the unclear situation we ask all people in the metropolitan area to stay at home or In nearby buildings to seek shelter. The operation of the public transport is currently suspended.

“As soon as more information becomes available, it will be reported”.

UPDATE 1915 BST — Three confirmed dead 
The German Interior Ministry has confirmed three dead, the Telegraph has reported.

However, German sources including the Muencher Abendzeitung are reporting that the death toll is much higher, with perhaps as many as 15 casualties. It is not known how many have been injured. An employee within the centre told Reuters “many shots were fired.”

UPDATE 1900 BST — WARNING GRAPHIC 
Munich police have asked witnesses not to share pictures of the situation as it unfolds as they track the shooter/s, however a number of images have been posted. While some actually show other attacks including the 2013 Kenyan mall attack, others are more clearly genuine with visible landmarks and signs that show they were likely taken in Germany.

This graphic image shows a first responder standing outside the Olympia McDonalds attending to a victim — the Saturn electrical store next door can be seen in the background.

 

UPDATE 1855 BST — Reports that Munich Police are dealing with multiple shootings — Mall and Metro station
Marienplatz Metro station in the centre of Munich is reported to be the location of a second shooting according to reports, although there are presently no confirmed reports of injuries.

Reports of a third shooting location in the city have not yet been confirmed.

UPDATE 1845 BST — Staff at mall are in hiding
Reuters are reporting that staff are still hiding out in the building, according to a member of staff who contacted the news agency by phone.
If so, events could evolve into a hostage situation, although there are currently no suggestions that that is the case.

UPDATE 1835 BST — Video claiming to show shooter posted to social media
A Twitter video showing a man with what appears to be a pistol shooting at bystanders also clearly shows a distinctively laid out branch of the McDonalds fast-food chain. Local images and Google Street View strongly suggests the video is in fact from Munich as claimed.

 

UPDATE 1820 BST — Images of armed police on roof
Tweet pictures taken from neighbouring buildings to the Munich shopping mall at the centre of this evening’s apparent attack clearly show Germnan police officers in ordinary patrol dress — rather than armed response order — crouched and taking cover with weapons drawn on the car-park roof. The images may fuel speculation that there may still be an active shooter in the area.

A Munich police source is being reported on Britain’s Sky News as saying there was more than one shooter and there have not yet been any arrests.

Fighting on the deck of the parking lot #munich #oez pic.twitter.com/nUk83vmGY3

— Iqfish (@IqfishLP) July 22, 2016

Stay safe #München pic.twitter.com/7asM6MJQn0

— Tim (@13CT013) July 22, 2016

UPDATE 1810 BST — Video emerges of situation outside the Munich Olympic Mall

UPDATE 1805 BST — Germans told to expect more terrorism
The attacks have come only 48 hours after a warning by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere who claimed that Germans should prepare themselves for more terror attacks in the wake of the axe attack in Wuerzburg. “In Germany we must also expect attacks by small groups of radicalised ‘lone-wolf’ attackers,” he said. Read more at Breitbart London

UPDATE 1800 BST — Confused reports coming out of Munich
There may be an active shooter in the Munich shopping mall, with reports of between one and 15 casualties presently being reported in European media.

The story so far:

The gunshots were heard at the Olympiapark shopping centre in Munich and police have announced on twitter that anyone in the area should leave immediately.

A major police operation is currently underway as many witnesses are reporting a very large police presence in the area.

Unconfirmed reports are stating that there may be several casualties as at least one alleged witness has posted a picture of what appears to be injured victims, though there is still no word from Munich police.

The shopping mall is located in the old Olympic park which was built for the 1972 Olympics. The Munich Olympics is well known for being the site of the massacre of Israeli athletes by Palestinian gunmen.