Hanau attack: Six Kurds feared dead in German shisha bar shootings

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – At least ten people were killed in a gun attack on two shisha bars in Hanau, Germany on Wednesday night, according to local police. The suspect, thought be a far-right extremist, was found dead at his home early on Thursday following a manhunt.

A number of the victims are reportedly of Kurdish origin, according to Germany’s Oberhessische Presse. 

A Kurdish shopkeeper in Hanau, who wished to remain anonymous, told Rudaw via WhatsApp that he understands from talking to other members of the Kurdish community that six of the victims were Kurds from Bakur (Turkey).

“There is a Kurdish community in Hanau from all over but mostly from Bakur,” he said.

The attacks occurred at two shisha bars in the German town of Hanau, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Frankfurt. The suspect fled the scene of the attack, sparking a massive manhunt involving helicopters and armed police.

Police in the central German state of Hesse said the likely perpetrator had been found dead at his home in Hanau after they located a getaway vehicle identified by witnesses. Another body was also discovered at the property.

“The suspected perpetrator has been found dead,” Hesse police said. “There is currently no indication that there are additional perpetrators.”

Germany’s Bild newspaper said those killed in the first bar were of Kurdish origin.

The first attack occurred at the ‘Midnight’ bar in the centre of the city at around 10pm local time (2100 GMT). Three people were killed in front of the building, local media said. Witnesses report hearing a dozen shots fired.

The attacker, or attackers, fled the scene by car, according to police. There was then a second shooting at the ‘Arena Bar’.

A gunman reportedly rang the doorbell before entering and opening fire on staff and patrons in the smoking section, killing five including one woman, Bild said.

“The search for suspects is going at top speed. There is no clear information yet as to a motive,” authorities said.

Police said one person injured in the attack had also died.

Earlier reports said five people had been seriously wounded.

The suspected gunman, who has been named by German media outlets as Tobias Rathjen, 43, is believed to have released a video message on the internet prior to the attack announcing his far-right motives.

Peter Beuth, the interior minister of the state of Hesse, said federal prosecutors suspect terrorism was the gunman’s intent. 

‘Decisive action’

Ali Can, who lives in the town of Essen near Dusseldorf, says a relative of his was amongst those killed on Wednesday. “We are afraid. We fear for our lives,” he tweeted on Thursday. “Are we so helpless against right-wing terrorists?” he asked of the German state. 

One of Can’s cousins, a wedding photographer who nearly went to the attacked shisha bar on the night of the attack, messaged him, saying: “What if the Nazis [the attackers] are now storming our weddings? We celebrate with 1,000 people. That would be a bloodbath. We are afraid, we cannot sleep.” 

Ali Ertan Toprak, a Kurdish community leader in Germany, has called for a more determined fight by the state against right-wing extremism. 

“We have been pointing out the dangers for years,” he told The Oberhessische Presse. “The state has to show that it is defensive. And the police have to take decisive action against right-wing extremists.” 

“The victims are people we have known for years,” said the bar manager’s son, quoted by DPA news agency. Two employees were among the victims. “It is a shock for everyone,” he added.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the attacks in a televised address on Thursday, saying “hatred is a crime”.

‘People live in fear’

Attacks by the far-right have become a particular concern for German authorities.

Germany has suffered several extremist attacks in recent years, one of which killed 12 people in the heart of Berlin in December 2016.

“People live in fear,” Kurdish community leader Toprak said, branding right-wing extremism “the greatest danger in this country”. 

The Kurdish community regularly receives “threatening calls and emails, some of which have increased recently,” but they are unsure whether they are right-wing extremists or Turkish nationalists, he added.

With additional reporting by AFP