Unborn baby among seven killed in shooting at Jehovah's Witness hall

There is still no word on a possible motive for Thursday evening’s shooting, which has stunned Hamburg.

Unborn baby among those killed in shooting at Jehovah’s Witness hall in Hamburg, GermanyPA Media

Seven people were killed inside a Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, including an unborn child, while eight were hurt, including four seriously.

The man suspected of going on the killing spree in Hamburg was a former Jehovah’s Witness, German officials say.

Thomas Radszuweit, a Hamburg security official, said the man was a 35-year-old German national whom he identified only as Philipp F in line with the nation’s privacy rules.

He said the suspected gunman was not previously known to authorities in Hamburg and there was no previous case against him.

A forensic expert walks beside police outside a Jehovah’s Witness building in Hamburg (Markus Schreiber/AP) PA Media

He said it is not yet possible to pinpoint why the man allegedly went on his rampage but there is no indication of a political motive.

The suspected gunman shot himself inside the hall after officers forced their way into the building, police say.

Hamburg police chief Ralf Martin Meyer said the man had a weapons licence and legally owned a semi-automatic pistol.

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