Suspect Fatally Shot Near Israeli Consulate in Munich on Munich Massacre Anniversary

On Thursday, a man was fatally shot by police in Munich after he reportedly fired a weapon near the Israeli consulate and the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism.

The incident occurred on the 52nd anniversary of the 1972 Munich Massacre, in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed by the Palestinian group Black September during the Olympic Games.

According to Munich police, officers responded to reports of a suspicious person carrying a rifle in the Karolinenplatz area, which is adjacent to the consulate. An exchange of gunfire ensued, resulting in the suspect’s death at the scene. No other individuals were reported injured, and there are no indications of additional suspects being involved.

The Israeli consulate was closed at the time for a ceremony commemorating the Munich Massacre, and none of its staff were harmed. The Munich Documentation Center, which explores the city’s Nazi history, also reported no injuries among its employees.

Israeli Consul General to Southern Germany, Talya Lador, called the incident a reminder of the rising antisemitism and urged the public to speak out against it. Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack, expressing shared horror with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser labeled the shooting as a “serious incident” and reaffirmed the importance of protecting Jewish and Israeli facilities. Authorities have not yet confirmed any connection between the suspect and the anniversary of the Munich Massacre.

Police have increased security in the city, including at Munich’s main synagogue, and have advised residents to stay indoors while investigations continue. The area around Karolinenplatz and Briennerstrasse has been cordoned off, and a police helicopter was deployed to assist in the operation.

With input from BBC, the Associated Press, and the Jerusalem Post.