Rabat – Police in Halle, a town in east Germany, tweeted today, October 9, that a shooting killed two people near a Synagogue.
Wir haben einen Einsatz in #Halle
Nach ersten Erkenntnissen wurden Personen getötet. Wir fahnden mit Hochdruck. Täter flüchtig. Bitte bleiben Sie in ihren Wohnungen oder suchen Sie sichere Orte auf.#hal0910
— Polizei Halle (Saale) (@Polizei_HAL) October 9, 2019
“Several shots were fired. The suspects are on the run with a vehicle. We are urgently investigating and are asking people to stay in their homes,” said the tweet.
One victim, a woman, was killed near the synagogue, while the second, a man, was killed at a kebab shop, about 600 meters away from the synagogue. Police have not yet released the victims identities.
Pictures on social media show one suspect wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest. The suspect was also holding an assault rifle.
Ja, ein militanter Nazi! #Halle pic.twitter.com/D3EXKzEFFx
— Me Go (@GodMeh) October 9, 2019
Shortly after the shootings, a car was hijacked about 14 km away from where the attack happened. Two people were injured during the incident.
Irre! #Halle via @MDR_aktuell pic.twitter.com/0SLLBaGF5O
— Michael Ziesmann (@M_Ziesmann) October 9, 2019
German police have already arrested one suspect. The German Federal Criminal Office suspects that there is at least one more perpetrator on the run.
The police search is ongoing in the village of Wiedersdorf, where the car was hijacked. German authorities are mobilizing a helicopter and several vehicles to apprehend the remaining suspect(s) as soon as possible.
The shootings coincide with Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.
According to CNN, the German public prosecutor is taking on the investigation. However, they have not confirmed or denied any possible links to terrorism.
