A District Court has ordered the remand of Samuel Adjei in police custody over a deadly shooting during an enstoolment ceremony in Nungua on Saturday, February 22.
Facing a murder charge, Adjei appeared before the court on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, after being linked to the fatal incident.
Police investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly fired live rounds from a single-barrel gun during the ceremony, striking Naa Borley Ahmed in the right thigh.
Despite being rushed to the hospital for emergency care, she succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment.
Authorities arrested Adjei shortly after the incident and brought him before the court, which ruled for his remand.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the Ghana Police Service arrested five individuals linked to a shooting incident in Okanta, near Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
The incident resulted in one fatality and an injury to a police officer.
The shooting occurred early in the morning when police officers from the Eastern South Regional Police Headquarters, along with complainant Daniel Dosu, were ambushed by assailants.
The officers were on their way to make an arrest in Okanta. Dosu was struck by a gunshot to the forehead and was taken to the hospital with the injured police officer. Unfortunately, Dosu was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Following the attack, an intelligence-led operation led to the arrest of Daniel Quaye, identified as the primary suspect and one of the individuals the deceased complainant was helping the police to apprehend.
Additional investigations resulted in the arrest of four more suspects: Anum Joseph, Joshua Aboagye, Kwesi Acquaye, and Samuel Acquaye. The weapon used in the shooting was also recovered from Quaye.
The body of the deceased has been taken to the Police Hospital morgue for autopsy and preservation. The injured police officer has been treated and discharged. The five suspects are currently in police custody, assisting with ongoing investigations.
A 39-year-old Ghanaian, Adu Boakye, who recently relocated to Canada just three months ago, has been fatally shot in what authorities have confirmed as a random shooting incident.
The shooting occurred in the North York area in northwest Toronto, with Adu Boakye becoming one of two victims in this senseless act of violence. The incident took place at Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue, prompting a swift response from the police.
According to a police statement on the matter, the incident unfolded on Saturday, February 17, 2024, around 3:05 p.m. Upon receiving a call reporting the shooting, police rushed to the scene.
Adu Boakye was found with gunshot wounds, and despite life-saving measures and immediate transportation to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The victim, identified as Adu Boakye, had recently moved to Canada, leaving behind a life in Ghana to seek new opportunities in his adopted country.
Detective Phillip Campbell, in a subsequent media interview, revealed that Adu Boakye and another unnamed 16-year-old boy fell victim to indiscriminate shootings less than 24 hours apart while waiting for a bus in the Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue area.
“Our investigation thus far has revealed there is no relationship between Mr. Boakye and the individual, or individuals, who shot him,” said Det. Phillip Campbell. He emphasized that both victims were innocently going about their business when they were shot.
The police have released some details about the assailant, describing the incident as a gang attack. They are urging the public to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrator. The shocking incident highlights the need for heightened awareness and community cooperation to ensure the safety of residents in the North York area and beyond.
A brutal attack by unidentified assailants in Binduri, located in the Upper East region, has resulted in the tragic deaths of approximately five individuals.
According to reports received by Citi News, the armed assailants launched an assault on a market in Binduri on Monday, opening fire indiscriminately.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Bawku, Hamza Amadu, verified the unsettling incident to the media.
The victims, primarily women engaged in their regular business activities, found themselves caught in the crossfire unleashed by the gunmen.
Mr Amadu expressed deep concern, indicating that the current count of casualties may escalate, suggesting the possibility of additional victims.
Authorities are anticipated to initiate thorough investigations to unravel the motives behind this ruthless attack.
In a tragic incident in Prague, the police reported that a gunman responsible for the deaths of 14 individuals at Charles University took his own life.
The shooting, which occurred in the university’s Faculty of Arts building, marks the darkest chapter in Czech mass shooting history.
There is also unverified information suggesting the same individual may have been involved in the earlier killings of a man and his daughter in a nearby forest.
During a press briefing, officials detailed how students had to barricade themselves within the university building while the police methodically searched each level to secure their safety. Bodycam footage from the operation was released, showing the tense moments leading up to the discovery of the gunman’s body on the building’s roof.
As a precaution, during the evacuation, police instructed everyone to exit with raised hands due to initial uncertainties regarding potential accomplices of the gunman.
The city’s police director, Petr Matejcek, added that there were “piles of ammunition in the corridors” and said he believed the quick arrival of police prevented more bloodshed.
This was echoed by Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan, who told the BBC that the gunman had bought a lot of guns into the university and that he was “ready to kill a lot of people”.
Mr. Rakusan clarified that one person passed away later in a hospital and that thirteen people had died at the university.
Although women make up the majority of the injured and dead, it is believed that the killings were random.
“To speak about motives is not easy for this type of crime,” Mr Rakusan said, adding that he thought it might have something to do with the killer’s life and his mental state.
“We don’t have particular proof or info from him why he decided to do something so terrible.”
All of those killed in Thursday’s attack have now been identified, but only one person so far has been named officially. Lenka Hlavkova was head of the Institute of Musicology at Charles University.
“It’s extremely cruel news for all of us,” reads a Facebook post from the institute.
A total of 25 individuals sustained injuries in the attack, which included one Dutch citizen and two individuals from the United Arab Emirates. The assailant, identified as 24-year-old David Kozak, is believed to have also murdered his father at a different location.
Prior to the shooting, law enforcement had received a warning about the suspect’s intention to travel from a nearby town to Prague with the aim of taking his own life.
Authorities are now on high alert for potential individuals inspired by the recent attack, focusing on immediate threats, including monitoring social media channels. Ballistic evidence is awaited to confirm the connection between the university shooter and the murders of a man and his two-month-old daughter in the Klanovicky forest on December 15.
In response to criticism regarding the timing of weapon use, the head of Prague Police’s murder department stated that the university shooter had been a suspect in the earlier killings, emphasizing that the police prioritized minimizing harm in their response.
“It would be unfortunate if police used a gun and if there was an accident, and people… were killed or injured as a result of that accident,” he said.
Vit Rakusan told the BBC he thought the reaction of police was “really professional” based on the information they had, which was about a suicidal man and not a mass killer.
“When I see the timeline of this crime, I don’t see any empty places where the police could have worked better,” he said.
As dawn broke over Prague on Friday, the lights continued to glow within the Arts Faculty, where a grim crime scene unfolded overnight.
While the police cordon has been lifted, the Charles University building stands as a poignant reminder of the worst mass shooting in Czech history, with the removal of the 14th victim’s body marking a somber morning.
Meanwhile, across town, a makeshift shrine has emerged at the gates of another university building, honoring the 14 staff and students who lost their lives.
Amidst falling sleet, a gathering of mainly young individuals, including university and school students, pays tribute by leaving small candles and flowers on the cobblestones.
Lucy, holding a significant bunch of white roses, expresses, “It’s the least we can do.” She recounts being at the law faculty just a couple of hundred meters away when the shooting commenced.
She shares, “They locked up and told us not to leave. There were lots of emergency cars and police. We didn’t really know what was going on. Now, all we are talking about is that it could have been anybody. It could have been my friends. Anyone could have been a victim, and that’s horrifying.”
Togo faced a heartbreaking ordeal in the lead-up to the2010 Africa Cup of Nations, leading them to forfeit the tournament.
The team encountered a tragic shooting incident during their journey from Congo to Angola, resulting in the deaths of their bus driver and goalkeeper, with two other players sustaining serious injuries.
Emmanuel Adebayor, the team’s captain, described the incident as the scariest experience of his life and expressed gratitude to be alive and well today.
In a detailed account shared on his YouTube channel, Adebayor recounted the traumatic events surrounding their journey to face Ghana in the opening game of the tournament.
“We jumped in the bus and set off from Congo to Angola. We reached a place and saw that there were a lot of security officials. The way they dressed was as if they were going to war. As footballers, we only made fun of it.
“We were just young boys and were having fun. Our bus had to be delayed because they had to check our documents. It took us thirty minutes to get that sorted and we crossed that border to where the AFCON was. We had two buses.
“One for the equipment and one for the players. While on the bus, I asked that the AC be turned on, but I was told that there was no AC on that bus and that the one with the luggage had AC. The players were already to swap but I convinced them that we should use that one and enjoy the natural air.”
Adebayor recounted that the journey had been smooth until they were close to their destination, where they suddenly heard an explosion.
Following the explosion, machine gun fire ensued, resulting in the tragic death of their driver. Additionally, their goalkeeper, Kodjovi Obilale, suffered severe gunshot injuries during the incident, leaving him paralysed to this day.
“The bus with the equipment was in front and that of the players was behind. A few minutes into the journey, we heard a big explosion and I thought it was fireworks. But I looked around and there was smoke all around and all I could hear was go down. There were machine guns firing. It was like a movie.
“We were shouting and there was a bit of silence. Then we found out that the driver was dead. Our second goalkeeper started crying about his leg but we thought he was joking. Then we started seeing blood in the car and he took off his shirt and we saw that his singlet was all red.”
Emmanuel Adebayor and the rest of the squad, along with three injured players, managed to escape the scene with the assistance of their military escort.
Subsequently, Togo withdrew from the tournament, leaving their group with three remaining nations: Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. Following the incident, Obilale expressed in an interview with L’Equipe newspaper that he considers himself a ‘miracle.’
“I’m a miracle. I want to go back home.When the tension increases in me, I lose it; I want to break everything. I want to see my children again and be back with those closest to me.”
Six people are feared dead in a recent shooting incident at Nkwanta South in the Oti Region.
According to eyewitnesses, armed assailants opened fire on residents at the Nkwanta Central Market early in the morning of Tuesday. The victims are currently receiving treatment at the Nkwanta St. Joseph Catholic Hospital.
The region has experienced tribal conflicts involving the Adele, Challa, and Akyode ethnic groups over land litigation issues. Recent skirmishes have also been linked to contention about a Yam Festival organized by the Akyode people in Nkwanta.
Despite efforts by the Oti Regional Security Council to resolve the issues, tensions persist. The Oti Regional Minister, Joshua Mukubu, stated that personnel have been deployed to investigate the trigger for the new attack.
The Regional Security Council has also engaged with chiefs and other opinion leaders to encourage residents to put down their weapons and restore peace.
In the meantime, police and military personnel have been deployed to maintain peace and ensure the safety of residents.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful, Boakye Agyarko, has recounted a horrifying shooting incident which almost claimed his life in 1983.
According to him, he was shot six times but all the bullets came out through his back after he was seized by some soldiers amidst the confusion of an attempted coup.
The gunshot he said left a deep wound injury in his back, a scar from the incident which he still has.
The former Energy Minister opened up on his harrowing experience on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen as he shared his political struggles and experiences ahead of the NPP presidential primary.
“I have been in the NPP tradition for 42 years. I was shot and nearly died because of politics and the NPP tradition.
“Aside from being a coordinator of the National Students Union, I was deeply involved in politics and criticised the military rule, which made me a target,” he said.
Mr Agyarko said on that fateful day, he was shot alongside 48 others but divinely was the only survivor who was even released after their bodies were deposited at the 37 Military Hospital.
“A nurse on duty at the time who gave me her name as Lily Tamakloe was the one who detected I was still alive. So she informed the doctors and I was immediately rushed for surgery. I was not put on any anaesthesia because the doctor told me that could have killed me,” he recounted.
Mr Agyarko stated he stayed in the hospital for almost three months and had to flee the country upon the advice of a high-ranked soldier surgeon, Dr Akpaloo.
“I had to undergo some surgeries in the US to ensure my full recovery and for two years, I was leaving but dead and from those experiences, I just learned to keep mute about certain things,” he noted.
The recent killing of a security chief in a town within Ethiopia’s Amhara region has led to the implementation of a night-time curfew and heightened tensions in the area.
The security situation in Amhara has been deteriorating since April, following the decision to dissolve the region’s paramilitary group.
The government’s efforts to bring the state’s special forces under the control of the military and police have sparked deadly anti-government protests in Amhara.
In response to the escalating violence, a curfew has been imposed in Shewa Robit town after the head of the local security department, Abdu Hussein, was fatally shot by unidentified attackers on Tuesday. This incident marks the third targeted killing within Amhara in as many days, as both a police chief and a security head in another district were previously gunned down.
The authorities in Shewa Robit, situated approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) northeast of the capital, Addis Ababa, have implemented restrictions on the movement of individuals and vehicles after 18:00 local time.
The Amhara special forces played a significant role in assisting the Ethiopian army during the conflict with Tigrayan fighters who rebelled against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government in 2020. The conflict concluded in November of the same year with the signing of a peace agreement.
The United Nations rights office has expressed concern over the fatal shooting of a teenager by police, which has sparked unrest throughout France.
However, the office also sees this situation as a potential opportunity for addressing underlying issues.
“This is a moment for the country to seriously address the deep issues of racism and racial discrimination in law enforcement,” spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said.
“We also emphasize the importance of peaceful assembly. We call on the authorities to ensure use of force by police to address violent elements in demonstrations always respects the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, non-discrimination, precaution and accountability.”
Officials have reported that two Japanese soldiers were killed and another injured when an 18-year-old trainee opened fire at a military training range in central Japan.
The incident occurred during a shooting drill in Gifu on Wednesday, with the trainee allegedly firing eight shots at instructors.
One of the victims was a 25-year-old man, while details about the other victims, who were instructors at the facility, are not yet known.
The suspect was immediately detained and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force stated that no civilians were involved, and live-fire and explosive training drills were suspended nationwide following the attack.
Gun violence remains rare in Japan, but a few notable incidents have occurred in recent years.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was gunned down at a political rally by a protester last July. Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister and his death profoundly shocked the country.
Japan was again rattled in April when Prime Minister Fumio Kishida escaped unharmed after having a smoke bomb thrown at his campaign event.
And in May, a Japanese man killed four people, including two police officers, in an hours-long knife and shooting rampage in the Nagano region.
On Wednesday, pictures on Japanese media showed police and emergency vehicles blocking off roads around the training facility in Gifu city.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said he was aware of the shooting, and said the incident was still under investigation.
Japan has strict gun ownership rules, and only allows civilians to own hunting rifles and airguns. People have to undergo a strict exam and mental health tests in order to buy a gun in Japan.
The incident is currently under investigation, according to Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu.
A shooting incident at a graduation ceremony in Virginia has resulted in the tragic deaths of two individuals, with five others sustaining injuries.
The incident occurred outside the Altria Theater in Richmond on Tuesday evening, causing panic among the attendees, many of whom were wearing graduation gowns. Police Chief of the city described the scene as chaotic, with people scattering in fear.
A 19-year-old suspect attempted to flee the scene on foot but was subsequently apprehended. Police have indicated that he will face charges of at least two counts of second-degree murder.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, is believed to have had a connection with at least one of the victims. Law enforcement officials managed to make the arrest without resorting to the use of firearms, and multiple guns were recovered from the scene.
We grieve for the victims and the families who lost loved ones tonight. I'm also ANGRY. I'm angry that families attending a graduation celebration can't do so safely. When do we say Enough is enough and lock up the criminals responsible for terrorizing our communities? pic.twitter.com/4NrAZVE53u
— Lt. Governor of Virginia – Winsome Earle-Sears (@WinsomeSears) June 7, 2023
While the identities of the victims have not been released, it has been disclosed that the deceased include an 18-year-old male who was part of the graduating class and his 36-year-old father.
Additionally, a 31-year-old individual sustained life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition, while four males aged 14, 32, 55, and 58 suffered injuries but are currently in stable condition.
The shooting took place in Monroe Park, which is situated directly across from the theater.
The incident occurred shortly after the graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School had concluded at approximately 5:15 PM (21:15 GMT). As families and graduates were leaving the venue, gunshots rang out, causing a rush of people seeking safety.
Some individuals were seen carrying young children and babies, while others sought refuge in nearby buildings. Emotional reunions and tears were shared among the graduates following the distressing attack.
🚨#BREAKING: Mass shooting at Virginia Commonwealth University's during high school graduation ceremony⁰ 📌#Richmond | #Virginia
Currently multiple law enforcements are on scene of a mass shooting that took place during a high school graduation ceremony in Monroe Park on the… pic.twitter.com/18sEoB973z
As well as those who were shot, police said another 12 people were injured in the rush or treated for anxiety due to the chaos.
“This should have been a safe space. People should have felt safe at a graduation,” Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said at a news conference.
“It’s just incredibly tragic that someone decided to bring a gun to this incident and rain terror on our community,” he said.
Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools Jason Kamras said the attack occurred on what was “supposed to be a joyous day when our kids walk the stage and get their diploma”.
“I don’t have any more words on this, I’m tired of seeing people get shot, our kids get shot and I beg the entire community to stop,” he said.
In a horrifying incident near the eastern city of Durban in South Africa, a group of armed assailants forcefully entered a room at a men’s hostel, resulting in a devastating loss of life.
Tragically, eight individuals were killed, while two others sustained injuries during the violent encounter. This incident marks yet another distressing mass shooting to occur within the country
Seven men were declared dead immediately after the shooting in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday in the Umlazi township. An eighth man died on Sunday, police said.
Two others are hospitalized with injuries, and they include a man who jumped out of the window of the hostel room to escape the gunfire. Police said that 12 men were in the room drinking alcohol when numerous gunmen broke in, shot at them and then fled.
Two of the men in the room were unhurt.
South Africa is among the 10 countries with the highest homicide rates in the world and there has been a spate of mass shootings in recent years. At least two mass shootings were reported earlier this year.
A child was among 10 family members who were killed at a house in April. Eight were shot dead at a birthday party in January.
Last year, 22 people were killed over one weekend in three separate shootings at bars in different parts of the country.
South Africa has reasonably strict gun laws but has serious problems with illegal firearms, police and community activists say.
An average of 30 people a day were killed by firearms in South Africa in the first three months of this year, according to official crime statistics. During the same three months, police recorded more than 4,000 cases of illegal possession of guns or ammunition.
A dispute about the man practicing shooting with a semi-automatic weapon nearby led to the death of five of the man’s neighbors according to the police in Texas.
The victims were all from Honduras, and included an eight-year-old child.
The shooting happened on Friday night in the small town of Cleveland, San Jacinto County, north of Houston.
Among those killed were two women who were found lying on top of two surviving children, according to local Sheriff Greg Capers.
“In my opinion, they were actually trying to take care of the babies and keep them alive,” Sheriff Capers told a local station KTRK. He added that all the victims had been shot “from the neck up, almost execution style, basically in the head”.
The suspect, believed to be Mexican, has been named as Francisco Oropez, 38. He is still on the run and thought to be armed. He has been charged with five counts of murder.
Police are using dogs and a drone in the hunt for the suspect, who is believed to be hiding in a nearby forest.
The sheriff’s office said it received a call about “harassment” at about 23:30 local time on Friday (04:30 GMT Saturday).
Investigators believe that the victims had asked Mr Oropez, who it is thought had been drinking, to stop shooting as they were trying to put a baby to sleep.
According to Sheriff Capers, the man replied: “I’ll shoot out in my front yard, do what I want to in my own residence.”
After both parties returned to their houses, the gunman “topped off his magazine, and walked down his driveway… into the people’s house and started shooting,” Sheriff Capers said.
A total of 10 people were at the property at the time. The adults were declared dead at the scene, and the eight-year-old died at a hospital.
The gunman is believed to have used an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.
Neighbour Veronica Pineda said she heard the shooting, but that the sound of gunfire was a regular occurrence: “It’s normal, in this neighbourhood they’re always shooting. They’re always calling the cops and there’s nothing done for that.
“So yesterday I heard the shooting but I thought it was, like, a normal day. I never thought this was happening.”
The incident came days after nine people were injured at a shooting during a teenagers’ party in western Texas.
Two weeks ago four young people were shot dead during a 16th birthday party in Alabama.
Firearm incidents are the top cause of death for US children and teenagers, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Hamburg, a city in northern Germany, a shooting at a Jehovah’s Witness meeting place has resulted in a number of fatalities.
Authorities claim that the shooter, who is believed to be deceased, operated alone. If the attacker is one of the six or seven fatalities listed by German media, it remains uncertain.
“There is no reliable information on the motive at this time,” according to authorities.
A number of people were also injured in the shooting on Deelböge street, Gross Borstel district, late on Thursday.
Police say they found a dead person at the scene who they believe may have been a perpetrator and investigations are continuing.
They were called at about 21:15 local time (20:15 GMT) on Thursday to reports that shots had been fired in the building, police spokesman Holger Vehren said.
Officers who went in found people who “may have been seriously injured by firearms, some of them fatally”, he said.
“The officers also heard a shot from the upper part of the building and went upstairs, where they also found a person. So far we have no indications that any perpetrators fled.”
He said police had not yet identified the victims and work at the crime scene continued.
“All we know is that several people have died here, several people have been injured, they have been taken to hospitals,” Mr Vehren said.
The reasons behind the shooting were “still completely unclear”.
On Friday morning, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the shooting as a “brutal act of violence”, saying his thoughts were with the victims and their relatives.
In a statement, the Jehovah’s Witness community in Germany said it was “deeply saddened by the horrific attack on its members at the Kingdom Hall in Hamburg after a religious service”.
Hamburg’s Mayor Peter Tschentscher has spoken of his shock and offered his condolences to the families of the victims.
Forensic experts have been working at the scene through the night. They can still be seen in their white suits inside the brightly lit interior of the meeting house.
It is thought people had gathered, possibly for a Bible study, when the shooting began at around 21:00 local time.
A neighbour said she had heard several bursts of gunfire and, later, had seen police officers carrying people out of the building.
An alert was sent on the federal warning app, NINAwarn, at around 21:00 (20:00 GMT) telling locals that “one or more unknown perpetrators shot at people in a church”.
Residents nearby were told not to leave their homes amid the ongoing police operation.
Footage showed police escorting people out of the meeting hall, some to ambulances.
Hamburg’s Interior Minister, Andy Grote, said on Twitter that police special forces and a large number of officers had been deployed to the scene.
Police have appealed to the public not to share assumptions or to spread rumours.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are members of a Christian-based religious movement.
The denomination was founded in the USA towards the end of the 19th Century, under the leadership of Charles Taze Russell. The headquarters of the movement is in New York.
Several people were killed and others were injured in a shooting at a Walmartin Virginia, on Tuesday night. Here’s what we know about the attack so far:
Police responded to a report of a shooting inside a Walmart in Chesapeake at 22:12 local time (03:12 GMT)
It’s understood that the attack took place when a store manager turned a gun on some of his co-workers
The attacker is dead, Chesapeake police said
Chesapeake Police officer Leo Kosinski told reporters rapid response officers entered the store “immediately” after arriving on the scene
Kosinski said police believed no more than 10 people were killed
Walmart issued a statement on Wednesday saying it’s “shocked at this tragic event”
Walmartsaid it was “shocked” at the shooting at its Chesapeake store in the US state of Virginia.
We are shocked at this tragic event at our Chesapeake, Virginia store. We’re praying for those impacted, the community and our associates. We’re working closely with law enforcement, and we are focused on supporting our associates.
“We’re praying for those impacted, the community and our associates. We’re working closely with law enforcement, and we are focused on supporting our associates,” the company said on Twitter.
A Texas cop who was previously reported to have been fired after shooting a teen in a McDonald’s parking lot has now been charged.
Per a report from the Associated Press, 25-year-old James Brennand was still in custody as of Wednesday morning after turning himself in the prior evening. Brennand, who was fired last week, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault by public servant.
Erik Contu, 17, was eating inside his car when Brennand (as seen in subsequently shared body cam video) approached and told him to exit. At the time, Brennand claimed, he believed the vehicle was the same one that had “evaded him” the night before. As the car is seen being driven away, the officer fires into the vehicle, hitting Cantu.
When reached for comment by Complex on Wednesday, an attorney for Contu’s family confirmed that the teen remained on life support.
“We have no comment to the former officer’s arrest at this time,” the family said. Our main priority is Erik’s recovery. Erik is still on life support and is non-responsive but his oxygen levels are showing an improvement. We are being patient and optimistic that better health is coming. Please continue to keep Erik in your thoughts and prayers.”
The San Antonio Police Department confirmed Brennand’s arrest when reached for comment. A rep also confirmed that detectives with SAPD’s homicide unit had filed the two aforementioned aggravated assault charges following a criminal investigation.
In a previously released statement following the announcement that Brennand’s employment had been terminated, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the officer’s actions “were not in accordance” with the expectations of the department.
“Swift action was taken by the chief to terminate the officer and I am relieved that this decision is final,” Nirenberg said at the time.
Ms Dale’s death was one of three fatal shootings within a week in Liverpool, with nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel killed on 22 August and 22-year-old Sam Rimmer gunned down in Dingle on 16 August.
Police investigating the murder of a council worker in Liverpool have released images of a vehicle travelling in the area shortly before she was shot.
Ashley Dale, 28, was found with gunshot wounds in the back garden of her home in Old Swan in the early hours of Sunday 21 August. She was taken to hospital but died a short time later.
Ms Dale, an environmental health officer for Knowsley Council, is not believed to have been the intended target of the shooting.
Her death was one of three fatal shootings within a week in Liverpool, with nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel killed in her home in Dovecot on 22 August and 22-year-old Sam Rimmer gunned down in Dingle on 16 August.
On the night of Ms Dale’s death, officers were called to an address in Leinster Road at around 12.40 am following reports of concern for a woman at the property.
Image:Ashley Dale was shot dead in Old Swan. Pic: Merseyside Police
Eight people have been arrested in connection with Ms Dale’s murder and remain on conditional bail or under investigation.
Police are now appealing for information about a grey Hyundai i30 N performance car that was spotted in the area earlier in the evening. The car has not yet been recovered.
Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings, of Merseyside Police, said: “We now believe that this Hyundai was driven in the areas of Dovecot and Page Moss during the evening of Ashley’s murder, including on Pilch Lane.
“As we look to gather all available evidence, I want to continue to appeal to anyone who lives in these areas and may have any information about this car.
“This might range from knowing who was driving, seeing someone being picked up, or capturing further images or footage on CCTV, dashcam or doorbell devices. We also need to know where the car is now.
“A minor detail could have major significance and we will review everything that comes in and make that assessment, and it all forms part of detectives building up an evidential picture, something that can of course take time.
“Please come forward with anything you know to help us bring those responsible before the courts and get justice for Ashley’s family.”
The footage in relation to Ms Dale’s death comes as police have made another arrest in connection with the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
A 40-year-old man from Dovecot was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender on Friday.
It comes a day after a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of her murder.
Anyone with information about Ms Dale’s murder is asked to contact the investigating team through the online portal at mipp.police.uk, or via social media @MerPolCC. Alternatively, they can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000615873.
British intelligence has reported that, as men called up for the country’s partial mobilization began arriving at military camps, a man shot a recruiter and set a conscription office on fire in Russia.
In Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk, a conscription office was shot at by theassailant, severely injuring a military recruitment officer.
Sky News has confirmed a video purportedly taken by a would-be recruit of the shooting.
It shows the gunman shooting the recruiter who falls to the ground, as others at the draft office start running out to the sounds of a woman screaming.
He was detained by police and identified himself as 25-year-old Ruslan Zinin in a separate video posted on social media.
Irkutsk region Governor Igor Kobzev wrote on the Telegram messaging app that the recruitment officer was in hospital in a critical condition, adding the detained gunman “will absolutely be punished”.
It comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin – faced with a series of defeats in Ukraine – announced a partial mobilization last week that could see 300,000 reserves called up to fight.
Elsewhere, a man was seen throwing Molotov cocktails at a military registration and enlistment office in Uryupinsk, in footage circulating on social media.
It shows the man driving a car up to the entrance of the local government building in the center of the town.
He can then be seen lighting several Molotov cocktails, throwing them one by one at the entrance to the building.
Town officials confirmed the building was set on fire early on Monday morning, and a man was detained. Damage was minimal and no one was injured, they added.
The threat of mass conscription has sparked protests around the country, and military-aged men have been fleeing in droves.
“Everyone who is of conscription age should be banned from traveling abroad in the current situation,” Sergei Tsekov, a member of Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, told RIA news agency on Monday.
Russia faces an administrative and logistical challenge to provide training for the new recruits, the UK Ministry of Defense said in its latest intelligence update.
Many tens of thousands of call-up papers have already been issued.
“Many of the drafted troops will not have had any military experience for some years,” the MoD said.
“The lack of military trainers, and the haste with which Russia has started the mobilization, suggests that many of the drafted troops will deploy to the front line with minimal relevant preparation.
“They are likely to suffer a high attrition rate.”
Videos have emerged showing men being forced onto buses as many citizens refused to take part in the war.
Protests over mobilization have taken place in more than a dozen cities across Russia, with girls as young as 14 years old detained.
Hundreds of people were arrested over the weekend, and there were major protests in the Dagestan region yesterday.
Sky correspondent Alex Rossi in Moscow said: “Russia is a very heavily securitized police state. Dissent isn’t tolerated, but there have been sporadic protests all over the country. Thousands of people have been arrested, protesting against what the Kremlin is calling a partial mobilization, but really, what to you and I, looks like mass conscription.”
The call-up of 300,000 reserves is almost double the initial invasion force, “so is a reflection really of how badly things are going on the battlefield, and shows that they have a very significant manpower problem”, he said.
General Sir Richard Barrons, a former head of the Joint Forces Command, told Sky News some individuals who are mobilized may find themselves on the front line in Ukraine very quickly.
“Of course, they wouldn’t necessarily be very enthusiastic about that,” he said. “And they won’t be very well trained and are probably not very well equipped for this kind of mobilization to make a difference.
“Russia would have to invest in training and equipping these large numbers of people that would take them well into next year. And it just doesn’t look like they have the training machinery, the logistics, or the weapons to make this really work any time soon.”
As Russia steps up its conscription of citizens, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged opposition troops to surrender to his country’s forces.
It comes as “sham” referendums continue in contested territory, which could lead to the formal annexation of Ukraine’s land.
They are being held in the self-declared Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republics (LPR), and in Russian-occupied parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The move comes eight years after a similar process in Russian-occupied Crimea, which Moscow said was justification for annexing the peninsula.
Sky’s security and defense editorDeborah Haynes in Dnipro, Ukraine, said the move was “a further escalation of the war”.
“There is no sign on the Ukraine side that they are backing down, but they are clearly going to have to counter an ever-increasing Russian force as they try to defend their territory and win back their land,” she added.
At 9:51 p.m. on Monday in Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham Hill, a “suspect” vehicle was stopped after “tactical contact,” according to police.
After a chase across south London, an armed policeman shot and killed a man in his 20s. He died in the hospital
The Met Police said in a statement: “At 9.51 pm on Monday specialist firearms officers were in pursuit of a suspect vehicle in the Lambeth area.”
Officers used a tactic where they deliberately collide with a car to force it to stop to bring the pursuit to an end in Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham Hill, shortly before 10 pm on Monday.
Locals reported hearing gunshots and the police helicopter hovering overhead.
A 39-year-old man, who lives on nearby New Park Road and asked not to be named, told the PA news agency: “The (driver) drove up New Park Road and turned up Kirkstall Gardens.
“A police car came down Kirkstall Gardens and crashed into him.
Merseyside Police said the 35-year-old man, suspected to have been the target of the shooting, has been detained in hospital on a prison recall after breaching the terms of his licence.
He will be recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his licence. He will be further questioned in connection with the murder and remains in a stable condition, the force added.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed by a masked attacker who had chased a man into her terraced home in Kingsheath Avenue, in the Dovecot area of the city, on Monday night.
Her mother had opened the front door after hearing a commotion outside, and a man being pursued forced his way into the house in an attempt to get away from the shooter.
Olivia’s mother Cheryl Korbel, 46, was shot in the wrist as she tried to close the door on the gunman, who fired indiscriminately into the house.
The youngster was fatally shot by the same bullet as she stood behind her.
The man who had entered the family home suffered gunshot wounds to his upper body and, as Olivia lay dying, was picked up and taken to hospital by friends driving a dark-coloured Audi which has since been seized by police.
Officers arrived and found Olivia with a gunshot injury to her chest
They took Olivia to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where she later died.
Mrs Korbel, who was taken to another hospital by paramedics, is recovering from her gunshot wound.
Police have been conducting house-to-house enquiries and reviewing CCTV footage.
The gunman was described as wearing a black padded jacket, a black balaclava with a peak, dark trousers and black gloves.
He fired shots at two men as they walked along Kingsheath Avenue, causing both to run away – one of them into Olivia’s house.
The actor, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of pointing the gun after an argument with a former buddy in November.
He allegedly fired the handgun twice more after that, striking the victim, who was just slightly hurt.
If found guilty, the 33-year-old, who has had two US number one albums, could spend up to nine years behind bars.
The rapper, who had a baby with singer Rihanna in May, is due to appear in court on Wednesday to answer two charges of assault with a semi-automatic firearm with allegations of personally using a firearm.
His lawyer had no immediate comment on the charges.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said: “Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences, not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood.
“My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted.”
IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS
Image caption,
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna welcomed their first child, a boy, in May this year
Police found multiple firearms at Mr. Mayers’ home while serving a search warrant following his arrest.
Terell Ephron, who is part of the A$AP Mob hip-hop collective, identified himself as the victim and sued his former friend last week, alleging assault and battery, negligence, and emotional distress.
Mr. Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, alleged that Mr. Mayers had “lured” him to an obscure location in Hollywood to discuss a disagreement.
The lawsuit claims that, after a verbal altercation, Mr. Mayers “pulled out a handgun and purposefully pointed it in the direction of [Mr. Ephron] and fired multiple shots”.
Mr. Ephron was “struck by bullet projectile/fragments” in his left hand and required medical attention, according to the court papers. He is seeking at least $25,000 (£20,750) in damages.
Mr. Mayers was previously given a two-year suspended sentence for his role in a brawl in Stockholm in August 2019.
As A$AP Rocky, he was one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2010s, earning eight platinum singles in the US including Wild For The Night, Everyday, LSD, and A$AP Forever.
At least eight people have been injured after a gunman opened fire on a bus near the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, Israeli officials say.
The suspect opened fire as the pilgrims were returning from prayers at the holy site. Two people, including a pregnant woman, are in a critical condition.
The gunman fled but is now said to have turned himself in.
The Western Wall is one of the holiest sites in Judaism. Thousands travel to pray there every year.
Israeli emergency services said the gunman targeted a bus near King David’s Tomb and a car park near the Western Wall.
The driver, Daniel Kanievsky, told local media his bus was full at the time of the shooting.
“We opened the ramp for someone on a wheelchair, and then the shooting started. Everyone got down on the floor, screaming. I tried to escape, but the bus couldn’t drive with the ramp open,” he said.
Video on social media showed heavily armed police at the scene and local media reported that worshippers had been briefly prevented from leaving the Western Wall compound.
The pregnant woman was shot in the stomach. She had an emergency Caesarean operation, with the baby reported to be in a serious, but stable, condition.
A man with gunshot wounds to the head and neck also remains critical.
Media reports say four of the injured were members of the same family visiting Israel from New York.
The gunman is said to be a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid pledged that anyone involved in the attack would “pay a price for any harm to our civilians”.
The attack comes a week after 47 people were killed in the Gaza Strip over three days as Israeli forces targeted leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and militants fired more than 1,000 rockets into Israel.
The militant group says it lost 12 fighters. Gaza’s health ministry said the others were civilians, including at least 17 children.
Israeli officials have said many civilians were killed by PIJ rockets that failed to clear Gaza. They have promised to investigate civilian deaths caused by Israeli fire.
Several Israelis sustained minor injuries as a result of PIJ rockets, most of which were intercepted by the country’s Iron Dome missile defence system.
A gunman has killed three people and injured another four at a shopping mall in Denmark’s capital Copenhagen.
The victims are two Danish 17-year-olds and a 47-year old Russian. Two Danes and two Swedes were wounded – one remains critical.
Police said the suspected shooter, 22, had mental health issues and there is no indication of a terror motive.
The suspect, who was described as “an ethnic Dane” by police, will face questioning by a judge on Monday.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark had suffered a cruel attack.
She said she wanted to encourage Danes to stand together and support each other in this difficult time.
“Our beautiful and usually so safe capital was changed in a split second,” she said.
The deadly shopping mall attack took place as Denmark celebrated hosting the first three stages of the Tour de France for the first time.
IMAGE SOURCE,MAHDI AL WAZNI Image caption, The alleged gunman wandering around inside Field’s Shopping Centre
The suspect had a rifle and ammunition when he was arrested, police said.
They have no indication that other attackers were involved and urged shop owners to preserve any video surveillance footage they might have.
Field’s has more than 140 shops and restaurants. The multi-storey mall is on the outskirts of Copenhagen, just across from a subway line that connects to the city centre.
Eyewitnesses spoke of panic among shoppers as gunfire rang out.
One of them, named Isabelle, told Danish media: “Suddenly we hear shots. I think I hear ten shots and then we run through the mall and end up in a toilet, where we huddle together in this tiny toilet, where we are around 11 people.
“It’s really hot and we wait and we are really scared. It’s been a terrible experience.”
A concert by British singer Harry Styles at a venue less than a mile from the scene was cancelled.
Crowds had already gathered inside the venue when the show’s cancellation was announced. Fans – many in their teens – were escorted by police to underground stations where parents picked them up, Danish media report.
“My daughters were supposed to go see Harry Styles,” Hans Christian Stolz, a 53-year-old Swede who came to pick up his children, told AFP. “They called me to say someone was shooting. They were in a restaurant when it happened.”
“We thought at first people were running because they had seen Harry Styles, then we understood that it was people in panic… We ran for our lives,” his daughter Cassandra said.
Writing on Snapchat, Styles said: “My team and I pray for everyone involved in the Copenhagen shopping mall shooting. I am shocked. Love H.”
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, Security forces arrived at the scene moments after the first reports of a shooting
Shortly after the shooting, the Danish royal family announced that a reception due to be hosted by Crown Prince Frederik to celebrate hosting the Tour de France’s first three stages had been cancelled.
Several neighbouring leaders expressed horror at the shooting and offered condolences to the families of those impacted.
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, People comforted each other outside the shopping centre
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin condemned what she called a “shocking act of violence” and Norwegian leader Jonas Gahr Store said his “thoughts go to the victims and their relatives and to the relief crews who are currently working to save lives”.
Denmark last saw a major terror event in 2015, when two people were killed and six police officers were injured during an attack on a cultural centre and a synagogue in Copenhagen.
IMAGE SOURCE,EPA Image caption, People outside the mall were visibly distressed
The gunman was later killed in a shootout with police.
The country has some of the strictest gun laws in Europe, with licences to own firearms usually only available for hunting or sport shooting following background checks – and with an almost total ban on automatic weapons. Carrying a firearm in public is strictly prohibited.
Lamu Senator, Anwar Loitiptip, has called for investigations into an incident where his father was shot and seriously wounded by a police officer allegedly for failing to wear a facemask at their rural home in Laikipia North Sub County last Sunday.
The Senator, speaking on Tuesday in Nanyuki town said that his father David Kiwaka 65 was shot on the thigh after a confrontation with five police officers from Doldol station as he waited to board a vehicle to Nanyuki who roughed him up before the shooting incident.
The incident is said to have happened at Kiwanja Ndege area at 12.15 pm before Kiwaka was rushed to Nanyuki Cottage hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.
“My father was shot on the leg in broad daylight at noon for allegedly failing to wear a facemask. Does failing to put on a mask warrant someone to be shot?†posed the Senator.
Loitiptip adds that the officers pounced on his father with kicks and blows as he pleaded with them to let him retrieve his facemask from the bag he was carrying but they would hear none of that and when he attempted to escape he was shot on the leg.
“We have since established that police constable Joseph Watila fired that shot that injured my old man and now we want the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the National Police Service to get to the root of the matter expeditiously so that justice can be done,†the Senator said.
He added that the police had a mandate to follow the rule of law and wondered why they would shoot someone for failing to put on a facemask.
When contacted over the issue, Laikipia County Police Commander Maxwel Nyaema however disputed mzee Kiwaka was shot for failure to wear a facemask but said that the victim was part of a group of members of the public who attempted to rescue a suspect who had been arrested at Kiwanja ndege area.
Nyaema added that Kiwaka stabbed one of the police officers with a Maasai sword on the hand prompting the confrontation that saw him get shot.
“The officers had gone to arrest a suspect named Peter Mureithi for assaulting his wife, but immediately he was nabbed about 10 members of the public descended upon them in a bid to rescue the suspect leading to the confrontation,†Nyaema said.
He further added that investigation into the incident were still ongoing.
Angry youth of Awutu Ofaakor in the Central Region have threatened to attack the Police in the area following the bailing of Detective Corporal Michael Larbie who was arrested in connection with a shooting incident that happened over the weekend.
Corporal Larbie who is the boundary chief and Tufuhene of Awutu Ofaakor was arrested by Combat 23 patrol team from the Accra region and the Kasoa Divisional Patrol team.
About 20 individuals during a chieftaincy dispute besieged the Ofaakor Palace demanding for the remains of the late Akyeamehene of Ofaakor Nana Kojo Amoashie.
Detective Corporal Michael Larbie is said to have led a group of individuals into the palace during the traditional ceremony to create mayhem and demand for the body of the late Akyeamehene.
According to the Central Region Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), DSP Irene Oppong, Corporal Michael Larbie is currently under investigation.
“Combat 23 patrol team from the Accra Region and Kasoa Divisional Police team in an operation arrested Detective Corporal Micheal Labrie of the CID headquarters who is said to be the boundary and Tufuhene of Ofaakor town. He has been arrested in connection with the shooting incident that took place on the 7th of March 2020 at the Ofaakor palace. Investigations into the incident continue,†DSP Irene Oppong said.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Kasapa FM news Yaw Boagyan, some angry Youths in the Kasos Ofaakor threatened to also fight the police for granting the detective police officer bail.
According to them, the police officer has been threatening the Youth in the area anytime he goes to there hence they are warning the Ofaakor Police to re-arrest the policeman and jail him else they will also fight them.
Meanwhile, the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly together with the police have begun investigations into the incident.
According to the Municipal Chief Executive, Micheal Essuman Mensah, four individuals have already been arrested and have been sent to the Police headquarters for questioning.
“About 15 to 20 detectives are here to pick the needed evidence and statement for us to be able to establish a prima facie case and be able to charge the suspects who have been arrested together with some other 3 accomplices. There are some names that have been mentioned of which the police have taken notice of and they will also look for them.â€
A gunman opened fire on two shisha bars in the western German city of Hanau, killing at least eight people and injuring several others, police say.
In both places targeted on Wednesday night the clientele were reported to have been predominantly Kurdish.
The suspect was found dead at his home along with the body of his mother.
Federal prosecutors are treating the attack as terrorism, with officials saying there is evidence the gunman was a far-right extremist.
Police say the suspect killed himself. The Bild tabloid reports he was a German citizen with a firearms licence, and that ammunition and gun magazines were found in his car.
According to Bild, he expressed far-right views in a letter of confession and a video but this has not been confirmed officially.
What do we know about the shootings?
The shootings took place around 22:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Wednesday, and the first target was the Midnight shisha bar in the city centre of Hanau. Witnesses reported hearing about a dozen gunshots, and at least three people were killed.
The suspect then reportedly fled in a dark car to the Kesselstadt neighbourhood and opened fire at the Arena Bar & Cafe, where at least five people were killed.
Shisha bars are places where people gather to smoke a pipe known as shisha or hookah. Traditionally found in Middle Eastern and Asian countries they are also popular in many other parts of the world.
The suspect was found dead at his home
The shootings sparked a seven-hour manhunt, while officers searched for what they thought could have been more than one attacker. They found the suspect and the second body in an apartment near the scene of the second shooting.
Hanau, in Hesse state, is a city of 100,000 residents about 25km (15 miles) east of Frankfurt.
Hesse Interior Minister Peter Beuth said the case was being treated as a terrorist attack, with the first indications pointing to an anti-foreigner motive.
Can-Luca Frisenna, who works at a kiosk at the scene of one of the shootings, said his father and brother had been in the area when the attack took place.
“It’s like being in a film, it’s like a bad joke, that someone is playing a joke on us,” he told Reuters news agency. “I can’t grasp yet everything that has happened. My colleagues, all my colleagues, they are like my family – they can’t understand it either.”
What has the reaction been?
Hanau Mayor Claus Kaminsky told Bild it had been a “terrible night”, adding: “You could not imagine a worse night. It will of course keep us busy for a long, long time and remain a sad memory. I’m deeply moved.”
Katja Leikert, who represents Hanau in the German parliament, the Bundestag, said: “Hopefully the injured recover swiftly. It is a horrific scenario for us all.”
On Twitter, Germany’s government spokesman Steffen Seibert said: “My thoughts are with the people in Hanau this morning, where an appalling crime was committed.”
This attack comes four days after another shooting in Berlin, near a Turkish comedy show at the Tempodrom concert venue, which killed one person.
Gun laws in Germany are among the most stringent in the world, and were tightened further in recent years after other mass shootings.
A suspected far-right extremist carried out the attacks on two shisha bars in western Germany, killing at least nine people, officials say.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said there were many signs the attacker in the city of Hanau had acted out of racism.
Federal prosecutors are treating the case as terrorism. Some of those killed were believed to be of Turkish origin.
The 43-year-old suspect killed himself, police say. He was found dead at his home along with the body of his mother.
Local media have identified the suspect as Tobias R, a German citizen. The Bild tabloid reports he had a firearms licence, and that ammunition and gun magazines were found in his car.
Authorities are examining a video that appears to be from the suspect, posted online days before the attacks, in which he expresses right-wing conspiracy theories. Bild said he had also left a letter of confession.
The attack comes amid growing concerns about far-right violence in Germany. Speaking in Berlin, Mrs Merkel said: “Racism is a poison. Hate is a poison and this poison exists in our society and is already to blame for many crimes.”
What do we know about the attacks?
The shootings took place around 22:00 (21:00 GMT) on Wednesday, and the first target was the Midnight shisha bar in the city centre of Hanau. Witnesses reported hearing about a dozen gunshots.
The suspect then reportedly travelled in a dark car to the Kesselstadt neighbourhood and opened fire at the Arena Bar & Cafe.
Shisha bars are places where people gather to smoke a pipe known as shisha or hookah. Traditionally found in Middle Eastern and Asian countries they are also popular in many other parts of the world.
Some of those killed were of Turkish origin, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted. Calling for a full German investigation, he said: “Racism is a collective cancer.”
The shootings sparked a seven-hour manhunt, while officers searched for what they thought could have been more than one attacker. Police identified the gunman through information from witnesses and surveillance cameras.
Early on Thursday, they stormed the suspect’s home, near the scene of the second shooting, where he was found dead near his 72-year-old mother.
Can-Luca Frisenna, whose father and brother run one of the two bars attacked, told Reuters news agency: “I heard my father was affected and my little brother… I saw them both – they were horrified and they were crying and everything. So everyone was shocked.”
Hanau, in Hesse state, is a city of 100,000 residents about 25km (15 miles) east of Frankfurt.
Hesse Interior Minister Peter Beuth said authorities were also examining a website attributed to the suspect. “What we know so far is that there is definitely a xenophobic motive. Whether there are claims of responsibility or documents, that’s still being investigated,” he said.
Mrs Merkel also vowed to do everything possible to clarify the background to the attack, saying: “There are many indications at the moment that the perpetrator acted on right-wing extremist, racist motives, out of hatred towards people of other origins, religion or appearance.”
Gun laws in Germany are among the most stringent in the world, and were tightened further in recent years after other mass shootings.
July 2016:Â An 18-year-old shoots dead nine people at a shopping mall in Munich before killing himself. Bavarian authorities later classify the attack as “politically motivated”, saying the teen had “radical right-wing and racist views.
What has the reaction been?
Hanau Mayor Claus Kaminsky told Bild it had been a “terrible night”, adding: “You could not imagine a worse night. It will of course keep us busy for a long, long time and remain a sad memory. I’m deeply moved.”
Katja Leikert, who represents Hanau in the German parliament, the Bundestag, said: “Hopefully the injured recover swiftly. It is a horrific scenario for us all.”
In other reactions:
German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer: “The background must now be clarified further. Violence from right-wing extremists must not let us rest, we must stand against it”
Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President and former German government minister: “I am deeply shocked by the tragedy that took place… in Hanau”
French President Emmanuel Macron: “Immense sadness and my full support for Germany in the face of this tragic attack… I stand with Chancellor Merkel in this fight for our values and the protection of our democracies”
