Munich Iranian-Origin Attacker Has 'No Connection to ISIS or Refugee Issues'

The police chief of Munich, Germany, stated on Saturday, July 23, that there are no signs linking the Iranian-origin German attacker, who killed nine people on Friday, to the Islamic State (ISIS). Munich police officials reported that at least nine people were killed in the shooting near the Olympia shopping center on Friday evening. Reports indicate that the assailant is an 18-year-old Iranian-German. The police chief announced that 27 people were injured in the shooting, three of whom are in critical condition. Most of the victims were young people aged between 15 and 21. According to him, the attacker likely acted alone and shot himself after the shooting. German police noted that the actions of the 18-year-old from Munich occurred on the fifth anniversary of the Breivik attack and that there is a 'clear connection' between the two incidents. According to the German news agency, police officials stated that a body found one kilometer from the scene is likely that of the attacker. Reuters reported that Hubertus Andrä, the police chief of Munich, explained that the young man's home and room were searched, emphasizing that no signs of a connection to ISIS were found and that the attacker acted alone. He stressed that the attacker 'had no connection to refugee issues' and added that there is no reason to cancel visitor and tourist programs in Munich due to security concerns. The Munich police chief further stated that the attacker was born and raised in the Munich area and had been under psychiatric care for a time. According to the Associated Press, German police officials said that a significant amount of books and articles about mass killings were found in the attacker's home, indicating a strong focus and interest in the subject of genocide. German police also reported that before the shooting, the attacker hacked into a German woman's Facebook account and sent an invitation message to a large number of people to come to the targeted shopping center at 4 PM on Friday. German police told the media that the actions of Anders Breivik, the Norwegian killer who killed 77 people on an island in Norway five years ago, 'could have inspired' the actions of this young man from Munich. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated in a statement: 'The motive for this heinous attack is not yet fully clear, and we have contradictory clues.' Earlier, it was reported that eyewitnesses had seen three armed men near the shopping center. Consequently, the police launched an extensive search for potential attackers. According to CNN, Munich police stated that the shooting occurred at 5:50 PM in front of a McDonald's restaurant opposite the Olympia shopping center. Meanwhile, city officials reported that public transportation resumed early Saturday morning after being halted following the Friday evening attack. Earlier, some media outlets reported that the attacker had a 'southern German accent.' German police had previously classified the attack as 'suspected terrorist activity.' Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the 'terrorist incident' in Munich and expressed sympathy with the 'people and government of Germany.' Reports indicate that Abdullah Nikounam, the Iranian consul in Munich, had previously asked Iranians residing in Munich to remain calm and to report immediately to the Iranian consulate if any incident had occurred to them. The Iranian consulate in Munich added: 'We have not received any reports regarding incidents involving Iranian citizens.' According to IRNA, about five thousand Iranians live in Munich, and 15 thousand in the state of Bavaria.