Four men, two women, and an unborn child were killed, and eight people were injured, four seriously, on March 9 in a Hamburg, Germany meeting hall used by the Watchtower Bible Church. At approximately 9:00 p.m., police in Hamburg received a report of gunfire coming from within the building.
The dead were all citizens of Germany. Among the hurt were a Ugandan and a Ukrainian. The pregnant woman survived her injuries, but her unborn child did not.
The shooter was among the bodies found at the scene, according to the police.
Suspect “Philipp F” was a former member of the faith but was known to have “ill feelings” toward the group.
Police instructed nearby residents to remain in their homes while they conducted their investigation. Officials said on March 10 that they now think the attacker was acting alone.
Nearby residents reported hearing gunfire and seeing someone run through the hallways of the three-story building.
Local student and resident Laura Bauch claims four shooting blasts took place. When Bauch looked out her window, she saw someone running up the stairs from the first to the second floor of the meeting hall.
Gregor Miesbach, a neighbor, heard shots and saw a stranger enter the building through a window. He then heard gunfire. He said the assailant showed up in the courtyard, fired more shots inside, and then ran out of the building. According to Miesbach’s report to NonstopNews, a German news service, he counted at least 25 gunshots. The eyewitness said that about five minutes after the police arrived, there was one final burst of gunfire.
Peter Tschentscher, Mayor of Hamburg, was stunned by Thursday’s tragedy. He said that investigators are making every effort to learn more about what happened.