Seven died during Thursday’s late-night shooting at the Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Hamburg, Germany. Twenty-five others were injured in the attack, of which eight were critically wounded.
Overview
According to eyewitness reports, the shooting occurred over “four periods,” with shots within each period at an interval of roughly 20 seconds to a minute.
On hearing the shots, the police entered the hall and found one dead on the top floor. While the police believe the deceased to be the assailant, they are investigating to confirm the suspicion.
The police spokesperson said there was a “lifeless person,” who they thought to be the orchestrator of the attack. He reportedly acted alone and is not suspected of being affiliated with any group.
Germany🚨Suspected terror attack in Hamburg; Atleast seven people killed and eight others injured in a shooting that took place on Thursday night at a Jehovah's Witness center in the Gros Borstel district of Hamburg; Attacker reportedly neutralized. pic.twitter.com/16JHOBFBYs
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) March 10, 2023
However, authorities are unsure about the motive of the attack. A police spokesperson said it initiated a major operation in the Gross Borstel district by deploying a “large contingent of officers” and sealed public streets, warning of “extreme danger.” Residents were instructed to use their phones only “in extreme emergency” to avoid burdening the network.
The emergency measures were eventually lifted.
Hamburg’s Mayor Peter Tschentscher took to Twitter to condemn the “shocking” news and extended his sympathies to the victims and their families. He further reassured that security officials are working “at full speed” to identify the perpetrators and the attack’s motive.
Die Meldungen aus Alsterdorf / Groß Borstel sind erschütternd. Den Angehörigen der Opfer gilt mein tiefes Mitgefühl. Die Einsatzkräfte arbeiten mit Hochdruck an der Verfolgung des / der Täter & der Aufklärung der Hintergründe. Bitte beachten Sie die Hinweise der @PolizeiHamburg. https://t.co/38UcdguLzH
— Peter Tschentscher (@TschenPe) March 9, 2023
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany
Of the 8.7 million worldwide, there are around 175,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany, of which 3,800 live in Hamburg. The religious movement was launched in the early 19th century in the US to preach non-violence. Over the years, they have become famous for “door-to-door evangelism.”
Mass Shootings
Concerningly, there have been several incidents of mass shootings in Germany in the past years. In January 2022, a gunman opened fire on students at Heidelberg University, killing one. In February 2020, a far-right extremist assailant shot ten dead in Hanau.
🕯️ The Yom Kippur attack on the #Halle synagogue three years ago shocked the Jewish world, as an armed far-right attacker tried to break into the synagogue while worshippers were inside. He shot and killed two people in the vicinity.
— World Jewish Congress (@WorldJewishCong) October 8, 2022
We honor their memory. pic.twitter.com/MKf0OHYKX3
Similarly, in 2019, two died in a neo-Nazi-led attack at a synagogue in Halle on Yom Kippur. The incident was referred to as the worst attack on the Jewish community since World War II, as the attacker sought to victimise over 50 that had gathered at the synagogue. The assailant was sentenced to life in prison in 2020.