At least 2 dead in shooting near German synagogue

According to police in the city of about 240,000, “several shots were fired” and a suspect is custody.

A witness driving near the site of the shooting told CNN said he saw a man dressed in camouflage clothing wearing a “steel helmet” and holding an long gun of some sort.

Police say a number of people are also injured. Photos from the scene show a body lying in the street.

Witnesses said the gunman tossed a homemade grenade into into a kebab store, which landed at the feet of an older lady but didn’t explode, so the shooter lifted his gun and began firing through the window and into the shop, killing one person.

Video from the scene of the shooting shows the gunman firing, reloading, and taking cover behind a minivan.

The gunman, who has yet to be identified, reportedly livestreamed the killing on the gaming platform Twitch. At the start of a 35-minute video, the man speaks into the camera and gives a speech denying the existence of the Holocaust, condemning feminism, immigration, and Jews.

The video shows him attempting to enter the synagogue, which was filled with people. He failed to enter the building because it was locked and shot a women walking in the street before getting into a vehicle and driving to the kebab shop.

His gun appeared to malfunction, but he still shot one person in the shop before firing at random targets in the street. The man drove away and tossed his phone on the side of the road.

The two people who were killed have not yet been identified, but one is male and one is female. Two others are being treated at a local hospital for gunshot wounds from the attack.

Halle police said on Twitter that the situation “is no longer considered an imminent risk.” The city has also reopened its train station after being closed for hours.

U.N. Secretary General António Guterres’ deputy spokesman said in a statement that the attacks were “yet another tragic demonstration of anti-Semitism” that “needs to be fought with the utmost determination.”

“The Secretary-General sends his deep condolences to the families of the victims, the Government and people of Germany. He wishes a swift recovery to those who were wounded in the attack,” the statement read. “Houses of worship around the world must be safe havens for reflection and peace, not sites of bloodshed and terror.”

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, expressed sorrow for the situation in a tweet after the shooting.

“This is the holiest day of year for Jewish people. And it’s been defiled by yet another murderous attack on a synagogue. Today in Halle Germany. Reports indicate 2 people killed,” Greenblatt said. “Today we mourn those lost in Pittsburgh, Poway and now Halle. Pray for the victims & their families.”

American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris said, “I’d normally never be on Twitter during Yom Kippur, but we just got word about a shooting at or near a synagogue in Halle, Germany. Early reports: 2 people were killed. A suspect has been arrested. On holiest day of Jewish year, Jews attacked…again. Pray for the victims.”