JEDDAH: Police in the German city of Munich say that a lone gunman was responsible for a shooting rampage at a shopping mall in the city which left ten dead, including the shooter.
The police, who had launched a major manhunt after reports said multiple gunmen had attacked a mall in a suburb of the city, gave a cautious all-clear after the suspect’s body was found.
Sixteen people were also injured during the gun attack.
Police said the suspect was an 18-year-old German-Iranian dual national who resided in Munich.
"The motive or explanation for this crime is completely unclear," said Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae at a press conference.
Authorities fearing further shootings, had closed highways and drafted additional security agents as the German Chancellor pledged government support for the police.
The shooting started shortly before 1600 GMT at a McDonald's restaurant near the mall.
Emergency vehicles and heavily armed members of the security services were seen at the Olympia shopping centre as pedestrians were directed to safety.
Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Germany issued an advisory note to Saudi citizens in Munich to stay indoors as a result of the ongoing security situation.
Some reports had said a gunman shouted “I am German, and I was born here,” before firing at people.
The mall is located near the Olympic stadium and is in an area with a large migrant community.
A record 1.1 million migrants and refugees were let in to Germany last year, with Syrians making up the largest group followed by Afghans.
Saudi Arabia condemned the heinous attack and expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
There was condemnation too from the White House as US President Barack Obama pledged to provide Germany with whatever help it might need to investigate the mall shooting.
The incident comes days after a teenager attacked passengers on a train with an axe. He was believed to be a lone wolf attacker who appeared to have been inspired by the Daesh group but was not a member of their network.
Europe has been on alert for terrorism in the wake of a string of attacks including bombings in neighbouring France and Belgium.
Lone teenage gunman blamed as ten die in Munich
Lone teenage gunman blamed as ten die in Munich
Kazakhstan urges US and Europe to help secure oil transport after tanker attacks in Black Sea
- Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry said three tankers were hit en route to the marine terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium
- Russian defense ministry said Matilda tanker came under attack by two Ukrainian strike drones
MOSCOW: Kazakhstan on Wednesday urged the US and Europe to help secure the transport of oil following drone attacks on tankers heading to a Black Sea terminal on the Russian coast which handles one percent of global supply.
Unidentified drones struck at least two oil tankers in the Black Sea on Tuesday, including one chartered by US oil major Chevron, as they sailed toward a terminal on the Russian coast to load oil from Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that three tankers were hit en route to the marine terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) in the Black Sea. On November 29, drones also attacked CPC’s exporting equipment, resulting in a fall in oil exports via the outlet.
“The increasing frequency of such incidents highlights the growing risks to the functioning of international energy infrastructure,” the ministry said in a statement.
“We therefore call upon our partners to engage in close cooperation to develop joint measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future,” it added.
Russian defense ministry said on Wednesday that the Matilda tanker, sailing under the Maltese flag, came under attack by two Ukrainian strike drones at a distance of about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the city of Anapa in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
Ukraine did not comment on the incident.
Shareholders in CPC’s 1,500-km (930-mile) pipeline include Kazakhstan’s state-owned oil company KazMunayGas, Russia’s Lukoil and units of US oil giants Chevron and ExxonMobil.
Russian terminals on the Black Sea handle more than 2 percent of global crude. Its waters, which are shared by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Turkiye, as well as Russia and Ukraine, are also crucial for the shipment of grain.
CPC alone accounts for around 80 percent of oil exports from Kazakhstan.
