![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/VJFHOEK.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nhe gunman who opened fire inside a Jehovah’s witness hall in Germany before taking his own life has been identified – as it emerged an unborn baby was among his victims.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to German outlets, the gunman, Philipp F was a 35 year old who claimed to be a business consultant and a former member of the religious group.<\/p>\n
It emerged today that a an unborn baby was among the victims after it was hit “in its mother’s womb.” The mother was among the victims.<\/p>\n
Police are still searching for a possible motive.<\/p>\n
Police responded to emergency calls around 9pm local time on Thursday.<\/p>\n
German police said: “According to initial findings, a shot was fired in a church on Deelb\u00f6ge street in the Gro\u00dfBorstel district.<\/p>\n
“Several people were seriously injured, some fatally. We are on site with a large contingent of forces.”<\/p>\n
Officers said that they have not established a reliable motive for the killing, but think it was a single shooter. German outlet Der Spiegel reported that the shooter was a former member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses aged between 30 and 40, although police have not confirmed this.<\/p>\n
Around eight people were reportedly seriously wounded in the shooting, while 24 more had minor injuries. It is believed at least eight people were killed.<\/p>\n
Police said on Twitter that a large operation was under way in the city’s Alsterdorf district, though added that the motive behind the attack is not yet clear.<\/p>\n
Officers are thought to have heard a gunshot from an upper floor after they arrived, finding a person upstairs who may be a gunman.<\/p>\n
Spokesperson Holger Vehren said police did not have to use their firearms at the scene.<\/p>\n
Vehren said: “We only know that several people died here. Several people are wounded, they were taken to hospitals.”<\/p>\n
Two witnesses interviewed on n-tv television, whose names were not given, said they heard 12 shots.<\/p>\n
Police had no information on the event that was under way in the building when the shooting took place.<\/p>\n
Mayor of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher said: “The reports from are shocking.<\/p>\n
“My deepest condolences to the families of the victims.<\/p>\n
“The emergency services are working flat out to track down the perpetrators and clarify the background.”<\/p>\n
Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian group with about 8.5 million members, which is separate from the mainstream of the religion. The denomination was founded in the 1870s.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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