A Gunman Killed At Least Two People Near a German Synagogue on Yom Kippur
Credit to Author: Tim Hume| Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2019 13:04:15 +0000
At least two people were killed Wednesday when a gunman opened fire near a synagogue in the German city of Halle Wednesday, sparking a police manhunt.
The shooting took place in the city's Paulusviertel district on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Police confirmed on Twitter that multiple shots were fired, and warned residents to stay indoors for their safety while they hunted the suspects, who had fled the scene in a vehicle. They later said they had arrested one suspect, but told residents to remain vigilant.
The gunman was wearing military-style fatigues and carried multiple weapons, including a submachine gun, witnesses told local public broadcaster MDR. He also threw an explosive device into a Jewish cemetery, witnesses said.
The shooting happened at about 12:15 p.m. local time (6:15 a.m. ET).
Police spokesman Thomas Geithner said police were ramping up security at the synagogue and Jewish cemetery in Dresden, another city in eastern Germany, in response to the attack.
Cover: A person lies on a road in Halle, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. A gunman fired several shots on Wednesday in German city of Halle and at least two got killed, according to local media FOCUS online. The gunman is on the run and police have sealed off the surrounding area. (Sebastian Willnow/dpa via AP)
This article originally appeared on VICE US.