Munich gunman 'had no links to Islamic State'

There is no evidence the gunman who killed nine people and injured 27 in Munich had links to Islamic State, local police said.

Published 23rd Jul 2016

There is no evidence the gunman who killed nine people and injured 27 in Munich had links to Islamic State, local police said.

Born and raised in the German city, officials said the 18-year-old, named in reports as Ali Sonboly, acted alone when he went on a shooting spree at a shopping centre and fast-food restaurant on Friday.

They also revealed he used a 9mm pistol and had 300 rounds of ammunition in his rucksack when he went on what they called a "classic shooting rampage".

Police said the weapon was a Glock 17 handgun which had had its serial number illegally filed off and there were indications the gunman had been in psychiatric care and treated for depression.

They confirmed his room in the flat he was living in had been searched and that documents of "frenzied attacks" had been discovered.

Ten of those injured in the mass-shooting were said to be in a critical condition, including a 13-year-old boy.

With parts of the crime scene now cleared and released - police said it was too soon to say as to when the Olympic shopping centre would re-open.

Officials said the attacker was not known to them and he had no criminal record.

Police investigator Robert Heimberger told a police press conference in Munich that it appeared the gunman had hacked a Facebook account and lured people to the shopping centre with an offer of free food.

The posting, sent from a young woman's account, urged people to come to the centre at 4 pm, saying: "I'll give you something if you want, but not too expensive."

Mr Heimberger said: "It appears it was prepared by the suspect and then sent out."

Police have appealed to witnesses who filmed the attack on mobile phones to pass the footage to them.

The force first received reports of shots being fired near the north Munich shopping centre at around 5.50pm local time on Friday evening.

The teenage gunman opened fire first in McDonald's on Hanauer Street before moving onto the Olympic centre.

Armed units flooded the area, with officers in plain clothes seen running through the shopping centre in search of the attacker.

His body was found in a side street nearby at around 9.30pm local time.

Officials said it appeared the gunman, who was a student, killed himself and said he did not have a firearms licence.