Munich gunman commits suicide, identified as German-Iranian
Munich police have announced a ‘cautious all-clear’ after an hours-long manhunt which culminated in the discovery of the body of a suspected gunman near the scene of the attack. Authorities suspect the shooter could have acted alone in a rampage that claimed at least nine lives.
“We found a man, who killed him himself. We assume, that he was the only shooter,” Munich police department said.
The perpetrator has been identified “within the framework of Interpol,” police said in a series of tweets in German. Law enforcement believes “with high” probability that the gunman acted alone.
We found a man, who killed him himself.
— Polizei München (@PolizeiMuenchen) July 22, 2016
We assume, that he was the only shooter. #gunfire #munich
Police said the shooter was an 18-year-old German-Iranian who lived in the country for over two years and whose motives “are still unclear.”
At a press conference, police chief Hubertus Andrae admitted that conflicting witness testimonies made authorities believe that there were three killers at large, but that information has not been confirmed.
Police also announced that the shooting rampage that started at the Olympia shopping center and the adjoining McDonald's left 10 people dead, including one person who died in a hospital and the shooter himself, who has not yet been named.
At least 21 people were wounded in the attack, said police spokesman Marcus da Gloria Martins, adding that their injuries ranged from mild to severe.
Initial reports led police to believe that up to three gunmen were on the lose as security forces deployed all means possible to track the attackers. As the manhunt continued, police found the body of a man that they believed was of the shooter who committed suicide.
Explosives experts from Munich police went on to examine a backpack found on the dead man who resembled the gunman seen on several videos shared online. The body of the man was found about one kilometer (0.6 miles) away from the mall where the shootings took place. A special bomb robot reportedly aided in examining the suspect’s body.
Police, according to Focus Online, also secured a vehicle they believe belonged to the dead gunman. Citing a police source, the publication reported that a “dark gray medium-sized car” had been taken away on a tow truck.
