Payam Javan: On Thursday morning, police in Munich engaged in a fatal shootout with a suspect in the Karolinenplatz area, close to both the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism and the Israeli Consulate. The confrontation began when officers were alerted to an individual armed with a long gun. During the exchange of gunfire, the suspect was fatally injured, although no other injuries were reported. The identity and motive of the suspect remain unclear.

The suspect, who was carrying an old model firearm, died at the scene. According to Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, the suspect fired at the police, prompting them to return fire. Authorities have not linked the incident to any specific motive or ongoing threat and have increased their presence in Munich as a precaution. There is currently no evidence suggesting additional suspects or related incidents elsewhere.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that the consulate in Munich was closed during the incident and that none of its staff were injured. Similarly, the Munich Documentation Center reported no harm to its employees. In response to the shooting, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed their shared condemnation. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser labeled the event a serious incident but refrained from speculating about its causes or implications.