Far-right terrorist gun attack kills 9 in Germany

BERLIN

A far-right German extremist killed nine migrants in a shooting spree in the western town of Hanau, authorities confirmed.

Peter Frank, Germany's chief federal prosecutor, told reporters Thursday that the victims targeted late Wednesday by the gunman in two cafes had immigrant backgrounds.

Turkish officials confirmed five were Turkish nationals.

Frank said six others were injured with one in critical condition.

Gunman left behind a manifesto

Germany’s Bild newspaper reported security forces identified the gunman as Tobias R., 43, from Hanau.

He posted a manifesto and several videos on the internet detailing his xenophobic views and plans for ethnic cleansing.

Frank said initial findings showed the suspect had deeply racist views and believed in various absurd conspiracy theories.

He did not have a criminal record, but authorities are investigating his possible contacts with far-right groups in Germany and abroad, Frank added.

Suspect and mother found shot dead

Tobias R. and his 72-year-old mother were found dead in their apartment in Hanau, following a raid by a special operations team early Thursday.

As Germany’s chief federal prosecutor took over the investigation, authorities identified "xenophobic motives" behind the attack, saying they will treat the case as a terrorist act.

Hanau is located around 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Frankfurt and has a population of nearly 100,000, including more than 15,000 with migrant backgrounds.

Turkish envoy visits wounded in hospital

Turkish Ambassador to Berlin Ali Kemal Aydin, along with Kazim Turkmen, chairman of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs, visited Muhammed Beyazkendir, who was wounded in the attack, in the hospital.

Beyazkendir recalled moments of the attack in tears, saying that "a man in yellow jacket" started shooting and killing people in cafe. One of Beyazkendir's friends died next to him.

Two friends from Afghanistan were also shot in the cafe.

Hanau holds vigil for victims

Various political groups and NGOs held a vigil in Hanau on Thursday evening for the victims killed in the far-right terrorist attack.

Addressing hundreds of people gathered in central Hanau, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a "brutal terrorist act" which aimed at spreading fear and dividing the society.

"Today is the day for us to demonstrate that as a society we stand together. We will not let ourselves be intimidated. We will not fall apart," he stressed.

Steinmeier called on all citizens to show strong solidarity with all those threatened by the far-right extremists.

In Berlin, several hundred people gathered in front of the historical Brandenburg Gate to mourn the victims and show solidarity with the migrants against far-right violence.