An armed individual was fatally shot by police in Munich near a Nazi documentation center and the Israeli consulate. The incident occurred during an exchange of gunfire, leading to the demise of the suspect, as confirmed by Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann.
Authorities reported that the armed man was spotted in the vicinity carrying a long firearm, prompting five police officers to engage in a shootout. Fortunately, no other suspects were identified, and police secured the area around Karolinenplatz, close to the city’s center.
In response to the ongoing situation, locals were advised to avoid the Karolinenplatz area and neighboring Briennerstrasse, while those inside nearby residential and office buildings were instructed to remain indoors. Police are currently investigating the situation and have urged the public to refrain from speculation.
A police helicopter was deployed to the scene, and authorities requested that images of the incident not be shared on social media. The Nazi documentation center, a significant site dedicated to the history of National Socialism, has been operational for nine years, located on the former grounds of the Nazi party’s headquarters.
Following the shooting, local reports indicated that security measures were heightened at Munich’s main synagogue. This incident coincidentally took place 52 years after the tragic 1972 attack on Israeli athletes, where eleven athletes and a police officer lost their lives.
At the time of the gunfire, the Israeli consulate was closed for a memorial service honoring the victims of the 1972 event, and no personnel at the consulate were injured. The Israeli consul expressed gratitude to the police for their quick response and highlighted the growing threat of antisemitism.
Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann remarked that the incident appeared to be linked to the Nazi documentation center and the Israeli consulate, as well as nearby cultural institutions. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized the importance of safeguarding Jewish and Israeli establishments, calling it tragic that the event occurred in such a historically significant location.
