Heidelberg University shooting: Gunman who attacked lecture theatre was 18-year-old biology student The attacker entered the theatre in the Neuenheimer Feld area, opened fire and then fled the scene, police said.
Image: The gunman reportedly used a long-barrelled firearm. Pic: AP
A gunman who shot four people at a German university before turning the gun on himself was an 18-year-old biology student, authorities have said.
The attacker - who had no criminal record - entered the lecture theatre in Heidelberg, opened fire and fled, according to Mannheim Police.
One of the four people shot later died of her injuries.
Image: Police cars were seen parked on the grounds of Heidelberg University. Pic: AP
Police believe the perpetrator had bought two guns abroad and was acting alone, but added that it was too soon to know the motive.
However, investigators reportedly told Bild that he appeared to have had no political or religious motivations.
He used a long-barrelled firearm during the attack, and Bild reported that he may have been carrying several rifles.
Officers had earlier asked the public to avoid the area, where Heidelberg University's natural science faculties are located, along with parts of the university hospital.
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The crime scene at Neuenheimer Feld was cordoned off, with a large deployment of police and emergency services on the scene.
Federal agriculture minister Cem Ozdemir, who is from the larger Baden-Wurttemberg area, said the news was "shattering", adding: "My thoughts are with the injured, with the university staff, with police and all other emergency services."
Located south of Frankfurt, Heidelberg has about 160,000 residents.
Greg2227 on January 24th, 2022 at 19:35 UTC »
When you see your birthplace on reddit ONCE and it's because of a shooting.
qbrsb3 on January 24th, 2022 at 17:06 UTC »
This happened in building 360 of the Neuenheimer Feld, the campus where the natural sciences are located, some time during noon / early afternoon.
I know this because I am a student there myself and we received an internal e-mail at around 1pm saying that we should avoid that area. I myself had been studying in the library, building 368, since 10am and had just wanted to go out to get something to eat, but stayed for another two hours because of that.
Edit because the upvotes are going up: Building 360 is right next to the botanical garden, and according to the Heidelberg University's website it's a botanical institute, where the shooting happened in a lecture hall.
Edit 2: My bad, it's the Centre of Organismal Studies as u/DividedState pointed out, but it has some plant-centred research faculties as far as I understand.
AbiTheSpeedLemon on January 24th, 2022 at 14:43 UTC »