By Franziska Müller
Published on
Police have arrested a suspected gunman following a deadly shooting in Berngau in Germany’s Upper Palatinate region.
At around 2:20 am, officers stormed a house in which the suspect had barricaded himself.
The raid was carried out using “explosives,” according to a police spokesperson. The suspect sustained minor injuries after being shot in the leg.
The 60-year-old is alleged to have shot and killed a male and a female employee of the Neumarkt District Office during a routine weapons check.
He is now receiving medical treatment, according to the spokesperson.
On Thursday, at around 2:00 pm, local residents reported hearing gunshots to the police. Police urged residents in the immediate vicinity of the village and the wider area not to leave their homes.
According to initial information, the incident occurred during a routine firearms inspection carried out by two employees of the Neumarkt district authority. They are said to have been checking a man when the shots were fired.
Police said he then barricaded himself inside a building. Special forces, who had surrounded the site, attempted to negotiate and find a “non-violent solution.” However, these efforts were apparently in vain.
Locals remained calm
“The mood among local residents is calm,” said the mayor of Berngau, Thomas Meier, when asked by local newspaper Die Mittelbayerische.
Meier also praised the solidarity among residents, who are well connected with one another via messaging apps and social media.
The municipality has around 2,600 inhabitants. Local events, such as club meetings or training sessions, have been cancelled.