Shooting spree in Hamburg: the father of the gunman turned to the authorities in 2021

On March 9, several people are killed in a rampage in Hamburg.

Now there are new details.

The news ticker.

• Amokschütze had

  contacted doctors

  : "To get mental problems under control"

• Rampage

  in

  the faith center

  of

  Jehovah's Witnesses

  : Eight people are dead - including the perpetrator

• This

  news ticker on the shooting spree in Hamburg

  is continuously updated.

Update from April 7, 7:20 a.m .:

The father of the Hamburg shooter Philipp F. turned to the authorities in 2021 because of his son’s mental problems.

Accordingly, the father called the social psychiatric service and said that his son heard voices and wanted to kill himself, said the head of the Hamburg State Criminal Police Office, Jan Hieber, on Thursday (April 6) before the Citizens' Committee on the Interior.

After a conversation with the son, however, no further measures were found necessary.

The 35-year-old killed seven people and then himself at a community meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hamburg-Alsterdorf on March 9.

As early as 2019, the environment of the later perpetrator noticed a change in Philipp F.'s personality after he ended his relationship and lost his job, said Hieber.

The 35-year-old then contacted doctors himself "to get his mental problems under control" and had meanwhile also been in inpatient treatment in Bavaria.

When Philipp F. announced in 2021 that he wanted to heal himself, the father decided to involve the authorities.

Amokschütze had contacted doctors: "To get mental problems under control"

There was also an anonymous whistleblower who wanted to use a book written by Philipp F. to prove his mental disorder.

Police chief Hans Martin Meyer said before the interior committee that even if this book had been evaluated by the weapons authority, the crime could not have been prevented.

Because even if one had come to the conclusion to request a psychological report, the 35-year-old could not have been immediately deprived of his weapon, according to Meyer.

The review of the sports shooter Philipp F. corresponded to the standard, said Hamburg's Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD).

"With the knowledge of today: That was not enough.

... That's why we have to make sure that such information is dealt with even more comprehensively in the future.” He again called for the gun laws to be tightened.

"It's too easy for people with mental illness to get a gun," the senator said.

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Flowers lie in front of the community center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hamburg-Alsterdorf, where a 35-year-old shot seven people and then himself in early March.

© Georg Wendt/dpa +++ dpa picture radio +++

Foundation Memorial to Murdered Jews of Europe warns against prejudice against Jehovah's Witnesses

Update from March 11, 5:38 p.m .:

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe Foundation warned of prejudice against Jehovah’s Witnesses after the amok attack in Hamburg.

"It is imperative to await the investigation and to protect the dignity of the victims of this crime," the foundation said on Saturday.

According to the authorities, the shooter himself was a Jehovah's Witness and left his community a year and a half ago.

Nothing is known about possible motives.

Rampage in Hamburg: spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses gives details of the alleged perpetrator

Update from March 11, 1:45 p.m .:

In Hamburg, according to police findings, an ex-member of Jehovah’s Witnesses shot several people and himself. A spokesman for the religious community gave details of the suspect two days after the rampage.

Accordingly, Philipp F. left the religious community about a year and a half ago, Michael Tsifidaris from Jehovah's Witnesses told the

and journalists from other media.

"It was a personal decision," Tsifidaris claimed.

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Undertakers bring a covered stretcher to their vehicle at the Jehovah's Witnesses building in the Alsterdorf district.

Several people were killed and a few injured when shots were fired at a Jehovah's Witnesses event on Thursday evening.

© Christian Charisius/dpa

The report said there were allegedly disagreements within the Hamburg Jehovah's Witnesses congregation about a planned book by Philipp F.

At the end of 2022, the alleged perpetrator had published his work "The Truth about God, Jesus Christ and Satan".

According to entries by members of Jehovah's Witnesses in various Internet forums, this is said to have resulted in Philipp F. being expelled from the religious community.

Security authorities have not yet confirmed this.

Officials said they still had to determine whether the alleged perpetrator was forced or voluntarily to leave his community.

Thomas Radszuweit, head of state security, confirmed in a press conference on Friday that the parting was definitely not amicable.

Fatal shots in Hamburg: The pictures of the crime evening

Fatal shots in Hamburg: The pictures of the crime evening

Amok attack in Hamburg: Investigations into the shooting of Jehovah's Witnesses are ongoing

Update from March 11, 10:06 a.m .:

At first there was no new information about the condition of the injured or the fact about the amok attack in Hamburg among Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Recently, eight people were injured, four of them were in mortal danger, as the Hamburg police announced on Saturday.

During the shooting on Thursday evening, 35-year-old Philipp F. shot eight people, including himself. 

Update from March 11, 6:59 a.m.:

Did the authorities misjudge the alleged perpetrator?

According to reports from the

the weapons authority is said to have received an anonymous tip about a possible mental illness of the suspect.

Two officers had visited the suspect unannounced and checked them at the beginning of February, but could not find any abnormalities.

The legal possibilities had been exhausted.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the police also found a large quantity of ammunition in the apartment of the alleged perpetrator after the shots were fired.

After rampage in Hamburg: Gun owners should be checked more intensively in the future

Update from March 10, 10:01 p.m .:

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) wants to review the draft amendment to the Weapons Act after the Hamburg shooting.

You certainly have to "go back to the law and see" whether there are still gaps, she told the ARD "Tagesthemen" on Friday.

In the Weapons Act, when applying for a gun owner's license, it should be checked in future "whether someone is psychologically suitable".

To do this, you need a check with the health authorities, says Faeser.

"Above all, we want better networking between the authorities." This is important, for example, when changing residence.

When such a card is first issued, there should be a medical certificate.

From Faeser's point of view, it would be very difficult to regularly examine all sport shooters in Germany without any information.

"Of course, the measures should also be proportionate." However, the terrible act in Hamburg shows how necessary changes to the weapons law are.

Hamburg's first mayor visits the crime scene and speaks of "great sadness and horror"

Update from March 10, 7:27 p.m .:

After the killings and injuries in a building belonging to Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hamburg’s Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) spoke of “great sadness and horror”.

Together with the Second Mayor Katharina Fegebank (Greens) and Interior Senator Andy Grote, he visited the crime scene on Friday evening and laid a wreath.

They paused silently in a minute's silence.

"Personally, on behalf of the Senate, on behalf of the citizens of our city, I express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims," ​​said Tschentscher afterwards.

Fegebank also expressed her condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

"We are thinking about you now, the shock is deep." Tschentscher and Fegebank thanked the emergency services for their quick and professional work.

They would have prevented much worse, Fegebank said.

It is rare for the police to stop the perpetrator during an amok attack, said Tschentscher.

According to him, the authorities are still working flat out to clarify the background to the crime.

"Deeply moved": Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser speaks at the scene of the rampage in Hamburg

Update from March 10, 5:28 p.m

.: In a short statement, Nancy Faeser expressed her “heartfelt sympathy” for the victims of the rampage in Hamburg to all victims, relatives and families, also on behalf of the federal government.

She wished those injured in the rampage a “speedy recovery”.

She was "deeply moved" by the "terrible act", which could hardly be put into words, and once again underlined her "appreciation and gratitude" towards all emergency services: "The quick action saved the lives of many people."

She blocked questions about the perpetrator's gun ownership with reference to the ongoing investigations, saying that it was still too early for political demands so soon after the horrific act in a community center of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Nancy Faeser also referred to the draft law currently being discussed in the federal government to tighten gun laws.

There are also regulations on the psychological suitability of gun owners.

Amok run in Hamburg: Faeser expresses her condolences at the scene of the crime

Update from March 10, 4:48 p.m .

: After the terrible killing spree in a Hamburg religious center of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) is now at the crime scene in the Hanseatic city to comment on the incidents.

She first took the opportunity to express her condolences and thank the numerous emergency services who intervened on Thursday evening and probably prevented worse.

Rampage in Hamburg: Investigators present new findings in the bloody deed in the community center of Jehovah's Witnesses

Update from March 10, 2:07 p.m .:

In Hamburg, the investigators presented the latest findings of the killing spree on Thursday evening in a faith center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in a press conference.

Amok run in Hamburg - what the investigators know about the perpetrator:

The alleged perpetrator is 35-year-old Philipp F., a former member of Jehovah's Witnesses.

He is said not to have left the community on good terms.

Philipp F. was in legal possession of several weapons.

In February there was a police check on the perpetrator because there was an anonymous tip.

During this check, the police came to the conclusion that Philipp F. had properly locked his weapons and ammunition.

Only ammunition was found openly, whereupon he received a verbal warning from the police.

The perpetrator was otherwise unknown to the police.

It is still being checked whether Philipp F., who was born in Bavaria and lived in Hamburg, suffered from a mental illness.

He shot himself at the scene of the crime.

What the Hamburg investigators can say about the victims:

The perpetrator shot seven people between the ages of 34 and 60 on the evening of the crime.

Among them was an unborn child in the womb.

Eight other people were injured or seriously injured on the night of the crime.

They are between 23 and 66 years old.

A total of 36 people were in the building at the time of the crime.

You and the relatives of the victims receive psychological care.

What the police say about the course of the shooting:

The perpetrator fired the first shot around 9 p.m. on Thursday evening during an event in the building.

What is certain is that the emergency services were able to prevent worse from happening thanks to their quick arrival and action.

The first emergency calls were received at 9:04 p.m., and the first emergency services were on site just four minutes later.

The special support patrol unit for difficult operational situations (USE) was able to gain access to the building by shooting through a window.

There, the investigators found dead and injured and the perpetrator, who fled to the first floor.

There, Philipp F. shot himself.

"A rampage of this magnitude - we have never experienced that before.

This is the worst crime, the worst crime in our city's recent history," said Hamburg's Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD).

Unborn child killed in rampage: Hamburg investigators talk in detail about the dramatic minutes, perpetrators and victims

Update from March 10, 12:58 p.m .:

A total of 36 people are said to have been in the building at the time of the crime.

You will receive psychological care.

Update from March 10, 12:54 p.m .:

There were not enough facts to restrict the perpetrator’s gun ownership.

"All ammunition and weapons were locked in a safe," says the chief of police.

There was no legal basis for depriving him of his weapons or his licenses.

The anonymous letter would not have sufficed.

Update from March 10, 12:45 p.m .:

State protection cannot yet provide any information on the motive.

With a view to the crime, the controls that had been carried out on the perpetrator beforehand were not sufficient.

But legally they are.

Nevertheless, the act still has to be "critically eyed," says police chief Mayer

Anonymous tip reports the perpetrator to the police - "verbal warning" from the officers

Update from March 10, 12:37 p.m .:

In total, he fired nine magazines, each with 19 shots, on the evening of the crime.

Among the eight injured are five women, including two 23-year-olds, two 33-year-olds and one 27-year-old, and three men, aged 32, 33 and 66.  

Update from March 10, 12:34 p.m .:

Philipp F. has been allowed to own weapons since December 12 because the 35-year-old was in possession of a weapon owner’s license.

Update from March 10, 12:31 p.m .:

In January there was an anonymous tip to the weapons authority, as the police chief explained.

On February 7, the apartment was checked by police officers from the weapons department.

There was only one verbal arrest due to a projectile.

Update from March 10, 12:28 p.m .:

The perpetrator Philipp F. is a former member of the community.

He had not left the church on good terms.

It could be that the perpetrator had a mental illness.

Eight dead in Hamburg: What is known about the process, victims and perpetrators - the police PK now live

Update from March 10, 12:22 p.m .:

The emergency services “acted in a highly professional manner,” emphasized Tresp.

According to the Hamburg Attorney General, Dr.

Ralf Peter Anders said.

He was not yet known to the police.

Update from March 10, 12:12 p.m .:

A total of 47 emergency calls are said to have been received on Thursday evening, such as

Matthias Tresp head of the protection police explained.

The emergency services were able to gain access to the building by shooting through the window of the building.

One person then fled from the emergency services.

The quick arrival of the police enabled them to separate the perpetrator from those attending the service.

This could prevent worse, as Tresp explained.

Update from March 10, 12:10 p.m .:

The

Senator for Interior and Sport speaks of seven injured and eight dead.

The first emergency calls were received at 9:04 p.m.

The special forces USE interrupted the shooting.

The perpetrator fled to the first floor and shot himself there.

It is a lone perpetrator.

Among the victims there is also an unborn child who was hit in the womb.

In total there were eight dead and eight injured.

This was announced by Hamburg's Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD) on Friday in Hamburg at a press conference.

The police also count the perpetrator and the unborn child among the dead.

Update from March 10, 12:06 p.m .:

The live press conference in the Hamburg police headquarters is now beginning.

The investigators want to give an overview of the current status of the investigation.

Rampage in Hamburg with eight dead: Agency reports further findings on the alleged perpetrator

Update from March 10, 11 a.m.: According to

information from security circles,

the alleged perpetrator of the rampage in Hamburg was not known to the police as an extremist.

According to reports, the fact that his name appeared in the databases of the security authorities has no criminal background, but to do with the fact that he is said to have applied for a gun permit.

This always requires a reliability check, in which references to criminal offenses and extremism are checked.

According to a report by

the content of which the police have not yet confirmed, a pistol was used as the murder weapon in the bloody deed.

Update from March 10, 10:51 a.m .:

In the course of the investigation into the killing spree in a Hamburg religious center of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the police will publish further findings on Friday afternoon.

"For yesterday's large-scale operation in Groß Borstel/Alsterdorf, a press conference is planned for 12 noon today at the Hamburg police headquarters," wrote the Hamburg police on Twitter.

You can follow the PK live here.

Update from March 10, 9:58 a.m .:

After the deadly rampage in Hamburg, Chancellor Olaf Scholz also expressed his sympathy.

"Several members of a Jehovah congregation fell victim to a brutal act of violence last night, my thoughts are with them and their relatives - and with the security forces, who have just put their hard work behind them," said the Chancellor.

Eight people died in the bloody deed, including the alleged perpetrator.

Shots in Hamburg: rampage in the faith center of Jehovah's Witnesses claims eight lives - alleged perpetrators probably among them

Update from March 10, 8:35 a.m.:

The Hamburg police reported on their website that “according to the current status (03/10/2022, 07:32 a.m.) 8 people were fatally injured”.

The alleged perpetrator was also among the dead of the killing spree.

In addition, "other people were injured by the act, some seriously," the police said.

A service was held in the three-story building of Jehovah's Witnesses on Thursday evening.

The shots were fired around 9 p.m.

Police officers were at the scene a few minutes later.

The police assumed it was a lone perpetrator.

Update from March 10, 8:24 a.m.:

According to a report by

, the suspected perpetrator of the killing spree is said to be a former member of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The man was said to be between 30 and 40 years old and used a pistol as the murder weapon.

The portal did not give details of the source of the information that has not yet been officially confirmed.

Update from March 10, 6:57 a.m .:

After the fatal shots at a Jehovah’s Witnesses service in Hamburg, the police are continuing their investigations at the scene of the crime.

“At the moment the handovers are going on here.

It's all in flux," said a police spokesman on Friday morning in Hamburg.

He was initially unable to give details of the dead and injured and how the crime happened.

There is no further information on this yet.

The scene of the shooting is a three-story building.

It is located in the immediate vicinity of a painting company and a construction site.

Amok run in Hamburg: Several dead after shots in a Jehovah's Witnesses faith center - alleged perpetrator probably dead

Update from March 10, 5:33 a.m .:

People were shot dead and other people seriously injured in a Jehovah’s Witnesses faith center in Hamburg on Thursday (March 9).

According to the police, the attack happened on Thursday evening in the Groß Borstel district.

The crime scene is on a street where the three Hamburg districts of Groß Borstel, Alsterdorf and Eppendorf meet.

Officials then "found a lifeless person who we assume could be a perpetrator".

It is currently not assumed that there are other perpetrators, it said on Friday morning.

According to the police, an event took place in the evening in the three-story building of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The shots were fired around 9 p.m.

Police forces were nearby and a few minutes later at the scene of the crime - and then "penetrated the object very quickly".

According to the information, the officials found several dead and seriously injured in the building.

First, the police were still looking for possible other perpetrators, but then on Friday morning they said: "According to the current state of affairs, we assume a perpetrator."

Also in the ZDF program Maybrit Illner, TV viewers were warned during the killing spree.

Meanwhile, Hamburg's Senator for the Interior, Andy Grote (SPD), announced a press conference for Friday afternoon, at which details of the crime and the status of the investigation would be announced.

Hamburg-News: Shots in the faith center of Jehovah's Witnesses - police investigations into the motive are still ongoing

Update from March 9, 11:53 p.m.:

The Hamburg police have not yet been able to provide any information about the motive for the crime.

The authority calls for no unsecured assumptions and / or rumors to be spread.

So far, there is no reliable information on the motive for the crime.

We ask that you do not share unsecured assumptions and/or spread rumours.

#shootout #hh0903

— Police Hamburg (@PolizeiHamburg) March 9, 2023

Shots in the Hamburg faith center: several dead – the police assume an amok attack

The incident happened in the Alsterdorf district of Hamburg.

The police spoke of a large situation.

According to information from security circles, the Hamburg police classified the shots as an amok act.

Update from March 9, 11:45 p.m .:

Several people were killed and some people were injured when shots were fired during an event of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg.

According to consistent media reports, seven people died on Thursday evening and at least eight other people were injured.

"The dead all have gunshot wounds," said a police spokesman.

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Police officers and helpers at the crime scene in Hamburg.

© Jonas Walzberg/dpa

Shooting in Hamburg: Several dead in the faith center of Jehovah's Witnesses - apparently seven fatalities

"According to initial findings, there are several dead among the victims," ​​it said.

The police initially did not give concrete figures.

The Hamburg interior authority initially did not want to confirm any numbers either.

Unconfirmed information from the official side is seven fatalities.

Shooting in the Hamburg faith center of Jehovah's Witnesses: No evidence of fugitive perpetrators

There is no indication of a fugitive perpetrator: "At the moment the situation is calm," said a police spokesman about the current situation about the shooting in the faith center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hamburg.

Patrol cars with blue lights cordoned off the crime scene in the evening.

Patrol officers with submachine guns additionally secured the area.

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Police officers in special equipment.

© Jonas Walzberg/dpa

Schüsse in Hamburg: Bürgermeister Tschentscher meldet sich nach Schießerei in Glaubenszentrum

Hamburgs Bürgermeister Peter Tschentscher (SPD) zeigte sich bestürzt über die Schüsse während einer Veranstaltung der Zeugen Jehovas. „Die Meldungen aus Alsterdorf / Groß Borstel sind erschütternd“, schrieb Tschentscher bei Twitter über die Schießerei in der Kirche.

„Den Angehörigen der Opfer gilt mein tiefes Mitgefühl. Die Einsatzkräfte arbeiten mit Hochdruck an der Verfolgung der Täter und der Aufklärung der Hintergründe.“ Tschentscher rief die Bürgerinnen und Bürger auf, die Hinweise der Polizei zu beachten.

Schießerei in Hamburg: Großeinsatz der Polizei – Mehre Tote und Verletzte in Kirche der Zeugen Jehovas

Erstmeldung vom 9. März, 22.00 Uhr: Hamburg – Großeinsatz der Polizei in Hamburg. In einem Zentrum der Zeugen Jehovas im Stadtteil Großborstel sind mehrere Schüsse gefallen. Nach bisher unbestätigten Meldungen seien dabei mehrere Menschen ums Leben gekommen. Zudem sollen mehrere Menschen verletzt worden sein – darunter auch zum Teil schwerverletzt. Übereinstimmende Medienberichten zufolge soll es zu sechs Toten gekommen sein. Noch unbestätigt ist ein mögliches weiteres Opfer.

As a spokesman for the Hamburg police, Holger Vehren, told

, the police received emergency calls around 9 p.m.

It was reported that shots had been fired during a community event.

Since the police were already in the vicinity of the building, the emergency services were quickly on site.

"When you went into the object, you already noticed that people - obviously with gunshot wounds - had been attacked." People were seriously injured, some fatally.

It is not yet possible to comment on the exact number of dead and injured.

The @PolizeiHamburg (Holger Vehren) on the situation in #Hamburg https://t.co/iFdoDfSXRU@ippenmedia @ippendigital pic.twitter.com/LEN2S8EOOE

— Sebastian Peters 🇺🇦 (@PressePeters) March 9, 2023

Shots in Hamburg: Several dead and injured – police give details

The spokesman also reports that the emergency services apparently heard shots in the building themselves.

Several people were found in the building itself.

It is still unclear whether this is the perpetrator.

It has not yet been clarified whether there are several perpetrators.

So far, however, there is no evidence of a fugitive.

According to reporters on the spot, the area was largely cordoned off after the shots were fired in the Deelböge in Hamburg.

In addition to paramedics who treat the injured on the street in ambulances, the fire brigade and the SEK are also on the spot in the Hamburg district on the border with the Alsterdorf district.

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Shots are currently being reported in Hamburg.

The police are on site with a large contingent.

© Elias Bartl

Schüsse in Hamburg: SEK vor am Einsatzort – Gebiet weiträumig abgesperrt

Umliegende Krankenhäuser wurden wegen eines Massenanfalls an Verletzten alarmiert, während Rettungskräfte den Noteinsatz bestätigten. Die Feuerwehr ist ebenfalls im Einsatz. Hilfsorganisationen werden aufgrund der vielen Verletzten hinzugezogen.

Die Hintergründe der Schüsse sind bisher noch unklar und die Anzahl der Toten und Verletzten ist bisher von offizieller Seite nicht bestätigt. „Bislang liegen keine gesicherten Informationen zu dem Tatmotiv vor. Wir bitten darum, keine ungesicherten Vermutungen zu teilen und/oder Gerüchte zu streuen“, erklärte die Polizei Hamburg auf Twitter.

#Aktuell kommt es in #Alsterdorf zu einem größeren Polizeieinsatz. Wir prüfen derzeit die Hintergründe und informieren hier in Kürze über nähere Erkenntnisse. pic.twitter.com/ISit1BZJ5t

— Police Hamburg (@PolizeiHamburg) March 9, 2023

The population was alerted via the Nina Warnapp.

The report reads: "Damage event: Today at around 9:00 p.m. one or more unknown perpetrators shot(s) at people in a church." Here, too, it is emphasized that the roads in the area are closed.

The population is encouraged to avoid the danger area.

Persons in the danger area should not go outside for the time being.

Hamburg – In a shootout in Hamburg on Thursday evening, several people were killed (to the news ticker) and some people were injured.

The police speak of a large situation.

Hamburg: Great situation of the police after a shooting in the faith center

#Currently there is a major police operation in #Alsterdorf.

We are currently examining the background and will provide more information here shortly.

pic.twitter.com/ISit1BZJ5t

— Police Hamburg (@PolizeiHamburg) March 9, 2023

According to the interior authorities, one or more perpetrators shot at people in a faith center in the Groß Borstel district.

The Home Office issued a warning.

List of rubrics: © Georg Wendt/dpa +++ dpa picture radio +++