Surprise attack by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany

BERLIN (AP) — Jehovah’s Witnesses expressed shock Saturday at the fatal shooting at one of the group’s halls in Hamburg, Germany, and thanked German authorities for preventing further bloodshed through their rapid intervention during the attack. .

A gunman shot and killed six members of the Hamburg congregation and injured eight others, including a woman who lost her unborn child, before killing herself on Thursday. The shooting sparked widespread condemnation and calls for tougher gun laws in Germany.

In a statement, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany confirmed that the man identified by police as the shooter was a former member who voluntarily left the Church two years ago.

“We do not know the motive for this horrific crime,” the statement said. “Like the rest of the world, we were shocked and bewildered when we read … that the shooter allegedly felt ‘particular anger’ not only towards Jehovah’s Witnesses, but also towards other religious groups and his Former employer.”

Authorities identified the attacker only as Philipp F., 35, abiding by German privacy laws, and noted that his departure from the Church “was apparently not on good terms.” The investigation into his motives is ongoing.

A website registered in the man’s name claims he grew up in “a strict, religious evangelical dwelling” in the town of Kempten in the state of Bavaria.

Police say Philipp F. legally acquired a gun in December and was visited by officers two months later after receiving anonymous reports suggesting he may not be psychologically fit to possess the gun. gun and was angry with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Officers determined the man was cooperative and decided there was no reason to take his firearm, police said.

In their statement, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany expressed their sincere condolences to the families of the victims and said that their goal will be to offer pastoral care to all those affected by the tragedy.

“At the same time, our sincere thanks to the police, who undoubtedly avoided even more deaths and injuries thanks to their rapid intervention,” they said.

The congregation in Hamburg, which was holding a service at the time of the attack, has about 60 members and is one of 47 in the port city, which has about 4,000 members, according to the statement.