A gunman has killed nine people after a shooting at two different hookah lounges in the western German city of Hanau. The suspect fled the scene and was found dead hours later next to another body which has not yet been identified, bringing the total fatalities to eleven – including the shooter.

The first shooting took place at the Midnight shisha bar in the city center, while the second shooting happened at the Arena Bar & Café in the Kesselstadt district. The city of Hanau is located in the state of Hessen, some 25 kilometers (15.53 miles) east of Frankfurt.

Five more people are believed to be in critical condition in the aftermath of both incidents. The shootings began at around 10 p.m. local time on February 19.

Shooter found dead

At about 5 a.m. local time on February 20, local police had confirmed that the body of the suspect was found in his father’s home. “Suspected culprit was found lifeless at his home address in #Hanau. Special police officers also discovered another body there. The investigation is ongoing. There are currently no indications of other perpetrators,” the Southeast Hessen Police Department tweeted in German.

Bullets, a gun holster as well as a hunting license were found in the suspect’s car. The police department has urged eyewitnesses to the incident and those with information to come forward.

Other recent attacks and arrests

On February 14 in the German capital Berlin, a 42-year-old man was killed by an unknown shooter outside the Tempodrom concert venue hosting a Turkish comedy night. Four others were injured and the shooter is reportedly still at large.

Also on February 14, German authorities detained 12 members of a far-right group who reportedly were plotting attacks on mosques and asylum seekers. The group, Der Harte Kern (The Hard Core) met via messaging service WhatsApp and had been founded in September 2019. The group is said to be aligned with Finnish far-right group, Soldiers of Odin.

German authorities have stepped up efforts in cracking down on neo-Nazi and far-right groups after the June 2019 assassination of politician Walter Lübcke who was known for his pro-migrant views.

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