Emrah I, an 18-year-old Austrian with Bosnian roots, died in a shootout with the Munich Police. The authorities suspect that he was planning a terrorist attack against the Israeli Consulate with an antique pistol with a bayonet attached.
The dead man in a shootout with agents outside the Israeli consulate in Munich On Thursday he was known to the Police in Austria.
When searching his home in Salzburg, the Police affirm that the man, identified as Emrah I, 18, was known to law enforcement since February 2023 and was investigated for terrorist links and subject to a weapons ban.
“As a result of the incidents that occurred in 2023, the responsible security authority, the Salzburg district authority, has confirmed the weapons ban, suggested by the police and which would be valid until 2028,” said the spokesperson for the Salzburg Police. Salzburg, Hans Wolfgruber.
Emrah I, identified by authorities as an Austrian citizen with bosnian rootswas located by the police near the Israeli consulate carrying a long firearm. He got involved in a shootout with five local police officers who opened fire with their service weapons.
“There was a sighting of a person wielding a long gun here at around 09:00 local time. Emergency services were made aware of this. There was subsequently an exchange of gunfire with this person. We now know that the person died in this exchange of gunfire“said Munich Police spokesman Andreas Franken.
It is believed that he was planning an attack
The authorities believe that planned an attack on the Israeli consulate on the anniversary of attack on the 1972 Munich Olympicsbut the motive is still being investigated.
“Of course, we cannot say anything about the motive at the moment. That will also be the subject of the investigation. Naturally, on a day like today we are very sensitive and we were also on the spot with the security forces. And there were forces here too who had first contact with the perpetrator of the shooting,” declared Andreas Franken.
As soon as the shooting began, some 500 police officers mobilized in the area near the consulate. A police helicopter also flew overhead, and people were asked to avoid the area via social media platform X.
Emrah I reportedly wore a Antique Mauser carbine with an attached bayonet.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the consulate in Munich was closed when the shooting occurred. Diplomats and employees were outside the office to attend an event commemorating the anniversary of the Munich Olympics attack.
Investigators believe the shooter could have connections with the so-called Islamic State group (ISIS) and that it was an attempted terrorist attack.
The incident comes on the 52nd anniversary of the attack by Palestinian militants on the Israeli delegation at the 1972 Munich Olympics, which ended with the death of 11 members of the Israeli teama West German police officer and five of the assailants.
