(Twitter)
Nine people have been reported killed and more injured in an attack in Germany today. Conflicting reports about whether the gunmen were nationalists or Islamic State sympathizers have been reported. However, German newspapers are reporting that “that at least one shooter involved in Friday’s attack at a Munich shopping mall… has shot himself in the head.”
If this is proven to be true, at least one terrorism analyst is doubting that the attack was perpetrated by jihadists.
Jenan Moussa, a reporter with Arabic Al Aan TV, reports:
Some unconfirmed reports #Munich attacker shot himself. If such reports true (I say if) then likely attacker not ISIS. This is why:
If ISIS is behind the attack, historically they won’t release an official statement right away. It took them 10 hours to claim the July 19 Wurzburg, Germany attack and 36 hours to claim the Bastille Day Nice, France attack.
However, there are unconfirmed reports that at least one gunman in the Munich, Germany shooting spree may have been targeting foreigners or immigrants. German media reporters say he may have shouted “Ich bin Deutscher” (“I am German”) at one point on video as bystanders shouted at the gunman. Reddit has posted a translation of the German in the video.
Terrorism analyst Michael S. Smith II reports that there has been a “significant slowdown in posts on IS-linked Telegram channels as news spread that the attack may be another group’s handiwork.”