Far-Right Attacker Kills 11 in Germany's Hanau, Five Citizens of Turkey Among the Deceased

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A far-right extremist killed at least eleven people last night (February 19) in the western town of Hanau, near Frankfurt.

The perpetrator, who targeted people at two cafes, was identified by security forces as 43-year-old Tobias R., Hesse's Interior Minister Peter Beuth announced.

Among the killed people, there were citizens of Turkey, including those of Kurdish origin, according to initial information. Daily Bild reported that "most of them were Kurds."

Turkey's Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said in a tweet that citizens of Turkey were killed in the incident.

"I wish God's mercy for our citizens who have died and wish a quick recovery for those who were injured in what is understood to be a xenophobic attack in Germany last night. We expect German authorities to show maximum effort to enlighten this case. Racism is a collective cancer," Kalın said.

The perpetrator and one other person who is believed to be his mother were found dead in an apartment in Hanau following a raid by a special operations team.

Minister Beuth told reporters that initial findings in the police investigation showed that the perpetrator was acting with 'xenophobic motives.'

"The Federal Public Prosecutor has taken over the investigation. It is treating this as a suspected incident of a terrorist attack," he said.

Reactions

Several government officials and politicians in the country condemned the attack, offering condolences for the people who died.

Chancellor Angela Merkel cancelled a planned visit to the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in Saxony-Anhalt. "The Chancellor is being continuously updated on the investigation in Hanau," said government spokesperson Steffen Seibert on Twitter, Germany's state-run Deutsche Welle reported.

Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas said in a tweet that "The terrible events in #Hanau hurts all of us. Following this terrible night our thoughts are with the dead, their families and relatives. We wish the injured a speedy recovery."

Hanau is located around 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Frankfurt and has a population of nearly 100 thousand. (PT/VK)