The United States Government has strongly condemned the senseless act of violence that occurred at a Jehovah’s Witnesses hall in Hamburg, Germany on Thursday.
In a statement released by the State Department Spokesman, Ned Price on Friday, while the unfortunate incident resulted in several fatalities and injuries.
United States said its condolences are with the victims and their loved ones during this difficult time.
Adding that No one should have to fear for their safety while attending a place of worship.
“Such acts of violence have no place in any society. We stand in solidarity with the people of Germany and pledge our support to assist as needed”, US said.
Meanwhile, it was reported that seven people are dead and several injured after gunman opened fire at a Jehovah’s Witness meeting hall in the German city of Hamburg.
The four men and two women who died were German nationals between 33 and 60 years of age. It is unclear if the baby’s mother, who was seven months pregnant, was also killed.
The motive of the attack is not known, but the gunman is believed to be among the fatalities while eight of those wounded are fighting for their lives.
Authorities said eight others were injured, four of them seriously. One of the injured is Ukrainian and another is Ugandan.
Police said the suspected gunman appeared to have taken his own life and said there was no evidence to suggest the incident was a terrorist attack.
Matthias Tresp, the head of operations for Hamburg Police, said officers did not at first realize they had found the body of the shooter in the building.
“We only knew there was one lifeless male on the floor with a weapon next to him,” he said, adding that police did not use their own firearms.
Yesterday evening, an appalling crime happened in our city during which eight people died, eight were seriously injured,” Hamburg’s Interior Minister Andy Grote said at a press conference Friday.
“We feel deep sadness and sympathy with the relatives of the injured.”
“Terrible news from #Hamburg. Several members of a Jehovah’s Church fell victim to a brutal act of violence last night,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a tweet Friday morning.
“My thoughts are with them and their families. And with the security forces, who have had a difficult deployment behind them,” said Scholz, a former mayor of Hamburg.
