Munich Police Kill Armed Suspect During Exchange of Fire Near a Museum and Israeli Consulate

Berlin: Munich police on Thursday shot and killed an armed man during an exchange of gunfire near a museum dedicated to the city's Nazi-era history and the Israeli Consulate.

Police spokesperson Andreas Franken reported that officers responded to a report of a person carrying a “long gun” in the Karolinenplatz area, near downtown Munich, around 9 a.m. The suspect, armed with an old repeating firearm, was shot during the confrontation. There were no other reported injuries.

The suspect’s identity and motive are still unknown. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann confirmed that the suspect fired at the police before they returned fire.

It is not yet clear if the incident is linked to the 52nd anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack by Palestinian militants, which resulted in the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes, a West German police officer, and five assailants.

Police have found no evidence of additional suspects and have increased their presence in the city. No related incidents have been reported elsewhere.

The Israeli Consulate in Munich was closed during the shooting, and no staff members were harmed. The nearby Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism, which explores the city's Nazi past, also confirmed that all employees were safe.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned the shooting, sharing their joint reaction on social media. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the incident as “serious” but avoided speculation, emphasizing the importance of protecting Jewish and Israeli facilities.