LATEST: Munich massacre gunman who killed nine people is dead and acted alone

Latest: Police in Munich have given a "cautious" all-clear after identifying a suspect who killed himself near the scene of the massacre. The suspect is believed to have acted alone.

LATEST: Munich massacre gunman who killed nine people is dead and acted alone

Multiple deaths are reported in a shooting at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich, Germany.

  • Witnesses called police and said there was a shooting on Hanauer Street.
  • Unverified video footage showed a gunman outside a McDonald's restaurant, thought to be on the same street, firing at people who could be seen running from the scene.
  • The shooting then moved from Hanauer Street to the nearby Olympia shopping centre, police said.
  • Munich police said ten people were killed during the shooting and at least ten injured.
  • One of the deceased found is believed to have committed suicide and is suggested by police to be the lone perpetrator of the attack, he has been identified as an 18-year-old Iranian from Munich.

Update 1.26am: An 18-year-old Iranian from Munich is thought to have been the gunman who shot nine dead and injured 10 others before killing himself, police in the city said.

Update 12.50pm: Police in Munich have given a "cautious" all-clear after identifying a dead suspect believed to be the gunman who killed nine people and injured at least 10 others.

The attacker is believed to have acted alone when he opened fire near in a shopping centre near to the city's Olympic Stadium on Friday night, sending crowds running for their lives.

Multiple shots were fired on Hanauer Street before the attacker moved to the Olympia Einkaufszentrum shopping centre in the south German city at about 6pm.

It was earlier feared that there were up to three gunmen at large as the situation unfolded, sending the city into lockdown.

People were urged to find refuge and there were reports of people near the scene locking themselves in shops.

Munich police gave a "cautious" all-clear at around 1.30am local time.

The police said in a tweet: "We found a man, who killed him himself. We assume, that he was the only shooter."

Footage of the attack appeared to show a man opening fire on shoppers near a McDonald's restaurant, sending bystanders running for their lives.

In another video posted on social media people were seen fleeing from the shopping centre close to the Olympic Stadium as shots rang out.

Munich police spokesman Peter Beck said 10 people died, including the likely attacker, in the shooting in the Bavarian capital.

Images posted online appeared to show dead victims lying where they fell, prompting condemnation from Munich police who appealed the photos are not shared or reproduced.

They tweeted: "To all, who publish pictures of victims: STOP DOING THIS! Please show more respect!"

Update 11.47pm: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to chair a meeting of the government's security council on Saturday.

Update 11.30pm: Munich police said at least ten people had been injured, adding: "Police operations are still running. The situation is still not clear."

Update 10pm: A ninth person was confirmed dead by Munich Police, who said they are checking whether the person was one of the attackers.

Update 9.34pm: The number of dead following the shooting attack in Munich has risen to eight, a police spokesman said.

Update 8.37pm: Six people were killed and an unknown number were injured in the gun attacks in Munich, the city's police force tweeted.

Update 8.20pm: US president Barack Obama said: "Our hearts go out to those who may have been injured. It's still an active situation and Germany is one of our closest allies so we are going to pledge all the support that they may need in dealing with these circumstances."

He said it was a "good reminder" that people's "way of life, our freedoms, our ability to go about our business every day" was dependent on law enforcement.

Update 8.07pm: If you have concerns about an Irish citizen in Munich contact the Deptartment of Foreign Affairs on 01 408 2000.

Nightclubs in Munich will be closed on Friday night, a local television network reported.

Drivers have been urged to clear the motorways surrounding Munich, the newspaper Abendzeitung said.

Update 7.58pm: Munich Police said they are treating the gun attack at a shopping centre as "suspected terrorism".

Update 7.45pm: Munich's main railway station has been evacuated and rail travel and local public transport in the area has been stopped, according to Bavarian radio station Antenne Bayern.

Update 7.30pm: Six people were killed during the shopping centre shooting in Munich, German public broadcaster BR reported.

Update 7.27pm: There are unconfirmed reports of shootings in other parts of the city, Munich Police said.

It tweeted: "Unconfirmed reports of more violence and possible #gunfire in the City Center. Situation is unclear. Please avoid public Areas."

Munich Police said in a statement: "At around ten to six today there were witnesses who called the police and said there was a shooting at the Hanauer Street.

"The shooting moved from that street to the shopping centre. The witnesses said there were three different people with weapons."

The police said that they did not have any details about the number of victims or injuries and that no arrests had been made.

They said that the Metro system is not working at the moment and urged people to stay at home or inside nearby buildings to seek shelter.

Update 7.20pm: Munich Police tweeted: "The suspects are still on the run. Please avoid public places."

The force added: "Please don't take photos or video of Police Action in order to avoid any helpful Information for the suspects."

In unverified footage, a man with dark hair, wearing a black t-shirt and denim trousers, appears to take aim at people outside a McDonald's restaurant near the Olympia-Einkaufszentrum metro station.

He raises his arms, apparently holding a shotgun, and appears to fire at people outside the restaurant, who can be seen running for cover.

The sound of multiple shots being fired can be heard as shoppers and passers-by run for cover.

People were seen fleeing from the building in another video posted on social media.

In a picture posted online a person can be seen lying on the ground covered in blood.

Police have responded to the attack in large numbers. Dozens of vehicles can be seen lining the street outside the shopping centre, and a number of armed officers and a helicopter are at the scene.

A cordon appears to be in place and the area has been evacuated.

The shopping centre in the northern part of Munich is not far from the city's Olympic Stadium in the Moosach district of the Bavarian capital.

The number of casualties or any fatalities have not yet been confirmed by authorities.

Update 7.00pm: There are "several dead and wounded" following an attack at a shopping centre in Munich and gunmen are on the run, police said.

Multiple shots were fired on Hanauer Street before the attack moved to the Olympia Einkaufszentrum shopping centre in the south German city at around 6pm on Friday.

Witnesses told police there were three gunmen, who are now on the run.

Update 6.36pm: A number of people are feared dead after a shooting at a shopping centre in Germany.

Shots were fired at the Olympia Einkaufszentrum mall in Munich, police said.

Munich Police told the dpa news agency in Germany they expected "several dead".

The force tweeted that the situation is "confusing" and warned people to avoid public spaces in the city.

The number of casualties or any fatalities have not yet been confirmed by authorities.

Update 6.05pm: Various reports have put the death toll from the shooting as high as 15, others claim one person has died.

Earlier:

Shots have been fired at a shopping centre in Munich, police said.

The Olympia Einkaufszentrum shopping centre was targeted, but police have not given any confirmed details about casualties.

Police are responding in large numbers.

The shooting is the second attack in Germany in less than a week.

On Monday, a 17-year-old Afghan wounded four people in an axe and knife attack on a regional train near the Bavarian city of Wuerzburg, and another woman outside as he fled.

All survived, although one man from the train remains in life-threatening condition.

The attacker was shot and killed by police.

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