German police shoot suspicious person near Israeli consulate on Munich Massacre anniversary
Police in Munich fatally shot a “suspicious” individual near a Nazi-era museum and the Israeli Consulate on Thursday, September 5. The suspect was killed at the scene following an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement, according to the Bavarian state interior minister.
The shooting occurred in the Karolinenplatz area, located in the heart of Munich. Authorities have stated there is no evidence to suggest additional suspects are involved. The incident has caused alarm in the area, though police have reassured the public that the situation is under control.
One of Germany’s leading newspapers, Süddeutsche Zeitung, reported that a local resident heard multiple gunshots followed by police sirens, and observed a large presence of officers at the scene. Witnesses described hearing shouts of “run, run” as the chaotic scene unfolded.
Benedikt Franke, deputy chairman and CEO of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), told BILD that his office, located adjacent to the Munich Documentation Center, had been placed on lockdown as a precaution. Franke recounted hearing a “loud bang” at 9:10 a.m., followed by “at least a dozen shots.”
The area surrounding the museum was cordoned off as police continued their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, though authorities have yet to release additional details about the suspect or their motives.
Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed that the Israeli Consulate in Munich was closed at the time of the shooting, and no staff members were affected by the incident.
The shooting coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympic attacks, in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian gunmen, heightening the sensitivity of the situation.
Munich police have since bolstered their presence in the city—Germany’s third-largest—but assured the public that there is no indication of further incidents or additional suspects at other locations.
Germany’s interior minister acknowledged the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that protecting Israeli facilities remains a “top priority.”
The museum near the scene of the shooting, the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism, focuses on the history of Nazi Germany (1933-1945) and is situated in the Maxvorstadt neighborhood, close to the Israeli Consulate.
