Teen acted alone in Munich attack – German police

Munich police keep the area barricaded while the investigation continues into Friday evening’s mass shooting in southern Germany. (BabiradPicture/REX/Shutterstock)

HOUSTON (ICIS)–An Iranian-German 18-year-old obsessed with mass killings acted alone in a shooting attack that killed nine people and injured 27 on Friday evening at a mall in Munich, Germany, and had no connections with any terrorist group, authorities said on Saturday.

Media reported that the teen had a handgun and more than 300 rounds of ammunition in a backpack. Police said he killed himself about 1 kilometre from the attack scene at the Olympia Einkaufszentrum mall.

An official police spokesman told the media on Friday that the attack began about 20:00 hours local time (16:00 GMT) at a McDonald’s fast food restaurant in the mall.

“Based on the searches, there are no indications whatsoever that there is a connection to Islamic State,” Munich Police Chief Hubertus Andrae told the media on Saturday. “Documents on shooting sprees were found, so the perpetrator obviously researched this subject intensively.”

Authorities said the gunman was a native of the Munich area and had been treated for psychiatric issues.

Police initially launched a manhunt for up to three suspects, but on Saturday officials told the media that the teen had no accomplices. A motive for the attack was still unclear.

Prime Minister Horst Seehofer and other officials visited that attack scene on Saturday to commemorate the victims.

“The brutal and inhuman murder fills us all with grief and horror. This is a heavy blow for the capital and for the whole of Bavaria,” Seehofer said in a statement. “Our thoughts are in this difficult time to the victims and … their relatives. For the solidarity and compassion that we have experienced around the world, we are grateful.”

Residents leave flowers at the subway entrance near the scene of Friday’s mass shooting in Munich on Saturday, 23 July 2016. (Action Press/REX/Shutterstock)

SMALL IMAGE: Munich Police Chief Hubertus Andrae speaks to the media on Saturday, 23 July 2016. (Xinhua News Agency/REX/Shutterstock)