German synagogue gunman confesses, admits anti-Semitic motive - prosecutors

German synagogue gunman confesses, admits anti-Semitic motive - prosecutors
German special police escorts Stephan B., suspected of killing two people in a shooting in Halle October 9, 2019, as he arrives prior to a hearing at the Federal Court in Karlsruhe, Germany, October 10, 2019. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski Copyright RALPH ORLOWSKI(Reuters)
Copyright RALPH ORLOWSKI(Reuters)
By Reuters
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button

By Ursula Knapp

KARLSRUHE, Germany (Reuters) - The man accused of killing two in a gun attack near a synagogue in the eastern German city of Halle has admitted to the crime and to having a far-right, anti-Semitic motivation, prosecutors said on Friday.

Stephan B., who published an openly racist and anti-Semitic manifesto and live-streamed the shooting on Wednesday, gave a detailed account of the incident to a judge at Germany's federal court of justice, public broadcaster ARD and other media said.

Investigators earlier seized evidence from the Halle flat he shared with his mother, including the 3D printer with which he is believed to have made the home-made guns he used in his failed attempt to storm the synagogue, magazine Der Spiegel reported.

In an 11-page manifesto, packed with references to the gaming and online messageboard communities he seemingly frequented, the 27-year-old outlined plans to kill dozens of Jews praying inside.

In an interview with Der Spiegel, Stephan B.'s mother said the alleged attacker had experimented with drugs in his early 20s and barely survived the experience, from which he had emerged a different person.

His full name cannot be published under German privacy laws.

(Additional reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Writing by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Alison Williams)

Share this articleComments

You might also like

Far-right Finns Party drops MP from group over Helsinki nightclub shooting arrest

WATCH: Police in Armenia push protesters off road

Pakistani lawmakers pick Asif Ali Zardari as president for second time