Munich police kill gunman in exchange of fire near Israeli Consulate
PBS NewsHourSEP 12 2024
German police shot and killed a gunman in Munich during an exchange of gunfire close to the Israeli consulate on Thursday.
Police identified the suspect as an 18-year-old Austrian national who was armed with a vintage hunting rifle. He was shot in Karolinenplatz, a square close to the Israeli consulate and a Nazi documentation center — both of which receive special security because they're considered high-risk for attacks.
Bavarian state police believe the man was planning a terrorist attack targeting the consulate, which was empty at the time due to a memorial taking place for the 52nd anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.
Considering the place and timing of this incident, it's obvious this suspect was trying to send an anti-Israel message with an attempted attack. Israeli institutions, as well as Jewish institutions, in Germany have faced increased threats since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2024 attack on Israel, and more must be done to protect these facilities.
If police stopped an act of terrorism, that's a relief. But the motive behind this incident shouldn't be prematurely attributed to antisemitism. Due to historical guilt, Germany has made its support for Israel its "reason of state" to the point of heavily restricting public discourse over the conflict — to the detriment of Palestinians and Israelis alike.