After the rampage that killed eight people in the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg’s Groß Borstel district on Thursday evening, investigations into the background to the crime are continuing.
At a press conference in Hamburg City Hall, Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD), Police President Ralf Martin Mayer, Arnold Keller from the Attorney General’s Office and a representative of the State Criminal Police Office want to share their current information with the public.
Of particular interest is a possible motive of gunman Philipp F. for his act of violence – and whether it could possibly have been prevented. Because the 35-year-old was checked by two officials from the Hamburg Weapons Authority after an anonymous tip about possible mental impairments, without any abnormalities being found. However, publications could be found on the Internet without much effort that suggest that F. had delusional traits, for example a more than 300-page book in which Adolf Hitler is glorified. Did the authorities know this book? And what conclusions did you draw from this? Follow the answers to these and other questions from journalists in the live stream at the Hamburg Senate:
During the killing spree in a Jehovah’s Witnesses building on Thursday evening, Philipp F. shot seven people, including a seven-month-old fetus in its mother’s womb. The pregnant woman was seriously injured along with seven other people. The gunman killed himself after police arrived.
Do you have suicidal thoughts? The telephone counseling service offers help. She is anonymous, free and available 24 hours a day on (0800) 1110111 and (0800) 1110222. Advice via email is also possible. A list of nationwide help centers can be found on the website of the German Society for Suicide Prevention.
Read more about the topic at stern PLUS:
