‘Several people injured’ after gunman opens fire in ‘mass shooting’ outside court in Germany
Several people have been reportedly injured after a gunman opened fire in a “mass shooting” outside a court in Germany.
The incident – which took place in the city of Bielefeld – occurred at around 1.30pm outside the building while the trial of Huseyin Akkurt was happening inside.
He was charged in connection with the murder of professional boxer Besar Nimani last year.
Local media reports have claimed that at least two people were shot in the attack.
Police have arrested one suspect, while another suspect is on the run and has reportedly barricaded himself in a nearby building.
Besar Nimani was ambushed and shot 16 times in the city of Bielefeld on March 9 last year, the court heard, and subsequently bled out in the street outside a shop.
German news outlet Bild reported that witnesses claimed that police officers yelled: “Someone is shooting outside!”
It was also reported that two members of the defendant’s family were believed to have been shot, with one sustaining a wound to their leg, while another was claimed to have been critically wounded in the chest.
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Currently, a police helicopter is believed to be circling the surrounding area.
A school close by the attack has triggered its emergency alarm, causing students and staff to block themselves in the building.
Akkurt is currently on trial for the murder of Nimani and strict security measures were installed to protect those inside the courthouse.
It was reported that riot squad officers had to secure the building and court and anyone who entered the room must be thoroughly searched.
The attack has followed several horrific attacks across the nation over the past two months.
Two weeks ago, an Afghan asylum seeker drove a Mini Cooper into a crowd of protestors in Munich, leaving a mother, 37, and her child, 2, to die from their subsequent injuries.
The driver was named as Farhad N in media reports and was arrested at the scene.
Police have confirmed that he admitted to carrying out the fatal attack.
The driver was a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, police said, identified in local media as Farhad N.
He was arrested at the scene and prosecutors say he has admitted to carrying out the attack.The s