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As it happenedended1570636415

Germany synagogue shooting - live: Reports of 'shots fired' in second location after gunman kills at least two in Halle

Follow latest updates after multiple people shot in attack

Andrew Griffin
Wednesday 09 October 2019 14:30 BST
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Germany synagogue shooting: round up

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A killer is on the run after shooting multiple people at a Synagogue in Germany, police say.

Multiple people are dead and injured following the attack in Halle, a city in the east of Germany.

Police warned the attacker had "fled" and that people should stay inside.

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.

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Local police have tweeted:

Operation underway in Halle: According to initial reports, people have been killed. We are searching at speed. The offender has fled. Please stay in homes or find places of safety.

Andrew Griffin9 October 2019 12:14
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Here is the latest from the Associated Press:

Police in the eastern German city of Halle say people are believed to have been killed in what local media reported was a shooting.

A police tweet Wednesday gave no information on the nature of their deployment in the city but said that initial information is that "people were killed." They didn't give a number. They also urged people to stay at home.

The Bild and Middeldeutsche Zeitung newspapers reported that there was a shooting.

Andrew Griffin9 October 2019 12:20
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And the latest from Reuters:

Two people were killed in a shooting in the eastern German city of Halle on Wednesday and police were looking for a suspect, they said on Twitter.

"We have a deployment in Halle," the local police said on Twitter.

"According to preliminary findings, people killed. We are conducting urgent searches. Perpetrator on the run. Please stay at home or look for another secure place."

Mass-selling daily Bild said on its website the shooting took place in front of a synagogue.

Andrew Griffin9 October 2019 12:21
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The shooter used a submachine gun to fire at several people, according to Bild.

Andrew Griffin9 October 2019 12:22
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The synagogue shooting happened on Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day of the year, which began yesterday evening and runs until this evening.

Andrew Griffin9 October 2019 12:24
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The shooter also threw a hand grenade into the Jewish cemetery, Bild reports.

Andrew Griffin9 October 2019 12:31
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BERLIN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Two people were killed in a shooting in the eastern German city of Halle on Wednesday and police said they were looking for suspects who fled the scene.

Mass-selling daily Bild said on its website the shooting took place in front of a synagogue. Bild reported that a hand grenade was also thrown onto a Jewish cemetery.

"According to initial findings, two people were killed in Halle," local police said on Twitter. "There were several shots. The alleged perpetrators have fled with a vehicle. We are searching urgently and ask citizens to remain in their homes."

The attack occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism when Jews fast for more than 24 hours, seeking atonement.

National rail operator Deutsche Bahn said the main train station in Halle had been closed.

Andrew Griffin9 October 2019 12:36
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Leipzig's fire department has tweeted to ask people to avoid speculation and that the police will announce any new findings.

Andrew Griffin9 October 2019 12:41
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Local police have tweeted that there is a major operation now ongoing on roads around Halle.

They also asked that residents use the 115 number for non-emergencies, to ensure that emergency calls are still able to get through.

Andrew Griffin9 October 2019 12:42
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Multiple attackers are being sought, the police's official Twitter feed suggests.

Andrew Griffin9 October 2019 12:43

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