German officials have said all of the victims of the far-right-motivated attack had a migrant background. Turkish and Kurdish groups in Germany are calling for more action against far-right extremism.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Meissner
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Germany is in a state of shock after a suspected far-right attack in the western town of Hanau left nine people dead and a community reeling.
The alleged perpetrator subsequently shot himself and his mother.
DW takes a look at what we know so far about the victims.
German federal prosecutor Peter Frank told German media that all of the victims had an immigrant background. They included both German and foreign citizens aged between 21 and 44.
The Turkish embassy in Berlin established that five of the victims were Turkish citizens. One victim was confirmed to be from Bosnia-Herzegovina, with German citizenship.
Romanian President Klaus Johannis confirmed that one victim was a 23-year-old Romanian, while the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said another was a citizen of Bulgaria.
Dozens of vigils have been organized in towns and cities across Germany after the deadly shooting in Hanau.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Meissner
German president joins mourners
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right) and his wife Elke Büdenbender, along with Hesse State Premier Volker Bouffier, laid wreaths near one the crime scenes in Hanau.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/O. Andersen
Vigil in Hanau
People in Hanau hold up photos of some of the victims of the shooting. Tobias R. is believed to have shot dead nine people, many of non-German background, after publishing a racist "manifesto" on the internet
Image: Getty Images/AFP/P. Hertzog
Mourning at the Brandenburg Gate
Hundreds of people gathered at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to light candles for the victims of the Hanau attack.
Image: DW/F. Hoffmann
Berlin Film Festival mourns
Berlinale guests observed a minute's silence at the opening gala on Thursday evening.
Image: AFP/T. Schwarz
Germany shows solidarity
People in the southern German city of Stuttgart hold up anti-racism placards, reading "Racism is no alternative" and "Hate is not an opinion." Many believe that the taboo against racism in Germany's political debate has softened in recent years, thanks to the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Gollnow
Mourning in Munich
A man wears a Turkish flag at the vigil in Munich. Five of the victims of the Hanau attack were of Turkish origin.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Kneffel
'Defending solidarity'
People in central Hamburg hold up a banner reading "defending solidarity".
Image: J. Große/imago images
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The first shooting
Four people died at the first location attacked, the Midnight Bar in downtown Hanau.
The bar's owner, a Turkish immigrant named Sedat C., was one of the first people killed. According to German news magazine Stern, Sedat was from the Turkish city of Hatai, and had opened the hookah bar two years ago.
Another victim was Ferhat Unvar, a 23-year-old of Kurdish descent. Unvar's father, Metin Unvar, told German broadcaster RTL that his son had just finished his education and was excited about the future.
Hamza K., a 22-year-old whose family fled to Germany from Bosnia during the war there, is also reported to have been killed in the bar.
Can-Luca Fresenna, the son of the cafe's owner, told local mediathat two employees were killed in the attack, including a pregnant woman.
Mercedes K., a 35-year-old of Roma descent, was shot and killed when the attacker burst into an adjacent corner store.
Germany shootings: What we know about the Hanau attacks
Two deadly shootings took place at a hookah bar and a cafe in the western German city of Hanau. This is what we know so far about the attacks.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/T. Lohnes
Two shootings
The first attack took place at a hookah bar in the downtown area and the second at a cafe about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) away in neighborhood of Kesselstadt.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Google
Getaway car found
Police received information about a getaway car, which they traced back to the suspect's address. Authorities then sealed off the area while special forces launched a major search.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Rössler
Two bodies found at suspect's home
Police said early on Thursday morning that they had found the suspect dead in his home. Another corpse was also discovered, which was later identified as the body of his mother.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Rössler
Letter of confession
A letter claiming responsibility for the attack from the suspect was found by police. Authorities are also examining a video that the suspect posted online several days earlier in which he details a conspiracy theory about child abuse in the United States.
Image: Reuters/K. Pfaffenbach
Federal investigators
Federal prosecutors announced they would be taking over the investigations. A spokesperson said there were "indications of a far-right motive."
Image: Reuters/K. Pfaffenbach
'Deeply racist mentality'
German Attorney General Peter Frank said the video and manifesto posted by the shooter revealed "not only crazy thoughts and convoluted conspiracy theories, but also a deeply racist mentality." He said prosecutors must now "find out, if there were any other supporters or accomplices in the Hanu attacks."
Image: Reuters/R. Orlowski
Mourning the dead
Flowers and candles are placed near the Midnight shisha bar. Nine people have so far been confirmed dead in the attacks. Several top EU officials, including European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have publicly expressed their condolences for the victims.
Image: Reuters/R. Orlowski
Merkel gives statement
German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivered a statement on the attacks on Thursday afternoon. She said it was too early to make a final assessment of the attack in Hanau, but that there were many indications that the perpetrator had right-wing and racist motives. "Racism is a poison, hate is a poison. And this poison exists in our society, " she said.
Image: Reuters/F. Bensch
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Hookah bars and small shops in Germany are frequently owned by immigrants with a Turkish or Kurdish background.
