Shooting Takes Place in Germany’s Jehovah’s Witness Community Building; 8 People Dead

A shooting at a Jehovah’s Witness Centre in Hamburg, Germany has left eight people dead including the gunman. 

People had gathered at the Kingdom Hall Building in Hamburg for a religious prayer service on Thursday evening. The shooting took place at 9 pm local time. 

“Eight people were fatally injured, apparently including the suspected perpetrator,” Hamburg police said in a statement, adding that several other people were hurt, "some seriously".

Jehovah’s Witnesses Are Members Of A Christian Based Religious Movement That Started In America at the end of 19th century. 

Television footage showed policemen storming into the building and escorting people out with their hands above their heads. 

Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the act of violence. 

The motive of the attack remains unclear as of now. 

Police have also asked witnesses to come forward and upload any pictures and videos to a website related to the incident. 

Der Spiegel magazine reports suggest that the attacker was a former member of Jehovah’s Witness community and he was aged between 30 and 40. 

People were alerted about an "extreme danger" in the affected area through a catastrophe warning app by the police.

New footage has emerged that shows the gunman firing many rounds through a window in the hall.

Germany has been a target of attacks in the recent past by militant groups and far right extremists.