Jehovah’s Witnesses shocked by Hamburg assault, thank police

In an announcement, the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany confirmed that the person police recognized because the gunman was a former member who left the church voluntarily two years in the past.

“We have no idea the motive for this horrible crime,” it mentioned. “Like the remainder of the world, we had been shocked and bewildered once we learn (…) that the gunman reportedly bore ‘explicit anger’ not simply towards the Jehovah’s Witnesses but additionally towards different non secular teams and his former employer.”

Officers recognized the shooter solely as 35-year-old Philipp F., according to German privateness legal guidelines, and mentioned that his departure from the church was “apparently not on good phrases.” The investigation into his motives was ongoing.

An internet site registered within the man’s identify acknowledged that he grew up in “a strict non secular evangelical family” the Bavaria state city of Kempten.

Police mentioned Philipp F. had solely legally acquired a gun in December and was visited by officers two months later after an nameless tip recommended that he may be psychologically unfit to personal the weapon and was indignant on the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Officers discovered the person to be cooperative and determined there have been no grounds to remove his weapon, police mentioned.

In its assertion, The Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany expressed its deep sympathy for the households of the victims and the survivors, and mentioned its focus was on offering pastoral care to everybody affected by the tragedy.

“On the similar time, our honest thanks go to the police, who undoubtedly prevented much more deaths and accidents attributable to their fast intervention,” it mentioned.

The Hamburg congregation that was holding a service when the assault occurred presently has about 60 members and is certainly one of 47 within the port metropolis, which is residence to nearly 4,000 denomination members, based on the assertion.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses declare a worldwide membership of about 8.7 million, with about 170,000 in Germany. The non secular motion was based in america within the nineteenth century and is headquartered in Warwick, New York.

Members are identified for his or her evangelistic efforts that embrace knocking on doorways and distributing literature in public squares. The denomination’s practices embrace a refusal to bear arms, obtain blood transfusions, salute a nationwide flag or take part in secular authorities.