Hanau shootings

Hanau shootings
Title	Hanau shootings
Location	Hanau, Hesse, Germany
Date	19 February 2020
Time	~22:00 – ~23:30 CET
Type	Mass shooting, domestic terrorism, spree shooting
Fatalities	11 (including the perpetrator)
Perpetrator	Tobias Rathjen
Weapons	Heckler & Koch USP pistol

Hanau shootings. The Hanau shootings were a series of racist terrorist attacks that occurred on the night of 19 February 2020 in the city of Hanau, near Frankfurt am Main. The perpetrator, Tobias Rathjen, targeted two shisha bars, killing nine people before returning to his home and killing his mother and himself. The attacks were widely condemned as an act of far-right extremism and sparked national debates about racism and security in Germany.

Background

In the years preceding the attacks, German authorities had noted a significant rise in far-right extremism and hate crimes across the country. Organizations like the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Amadeu Antonio Foundation had repeatedly warned of growing violent ideologies. The perpetrator, Tobias Rathjen, had authored a detailed manifesto and videos espousing xenophobic and conspiratorial beliefs, which he disseminated online. His writings echoed themes found in other extremist attacks, such as the Christchurch mosque shootings and the 2019 Halle synagogue shooting, promoting racist and misogynistic views. The city of Hanau, with a diverse population including many residents of Turkish and Kurdish descent, became the focal point for his violent ideology.

Shootings

The attacks began around 10:00 PM CET at the "Midnight" shisha bar in the Heumarkt district. Rathjen entered the establishment and opened fire with a modified Heckler & Koch USP pistol, killing several people. He then drove approximately two kilometers to the "Arena Bar & Café" in the Kesselstadt neighborhood, where he continued his shooting spree. Witnesses reported hearing numerous gunshots, and emergency services from the Hanau Fire Department and Police of Hesse responded to multiple distress calls. After the shootings, Rathjen fled the scenes and returned to his residence in the Hanau-West district, where the final acts of violence occurred.

Perpetrator

Tobias Rathjen was a 43-year-old German citizen who had lived in Hanau for most of his life. Prior to the attacks, he had no significant criminal record but was known to hold extreme far-right and conspiratorial beliefs. He authored a lengthy manifesto, which he sent to various media outlets and authorities, including the Federal Public Prosecutor General, detailing his racist ideology and admiration for other extremists. Investigations by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) revealed he had legally obtained his firearm and had undergone extensive training at a local shooting club. His digital footprint showed engagement with online communities promoting xenophobia and anti-Semitism.

Victims

The attacks claimed the lives of nine people at the two shisha bars: Gökhan Gültekin, Sedat Gürbüz, Parwis S. (surname withheld per German privacy laws), Mercedes Kierpacz, Hamza Kurtović, Vili Viorel Păun, Fatih Saraçoğlu, Said Nesar Hashemi, and Kaloyan Velkov. All were between the ages of 21 and 44. The victims were of Turkish, Kurdish, Bosniak, Roma, and Bulgarian backgrounds, reflecting the multicultural community of Hanau. Later at his home, Rathjen also killed his 72-year-old mother before turning the weapon on himself. Five other individuals were injured during the shootings at the bars.

Aftermath

Immediately following the attacks, a large-scale investigation was launched by the Federal Public Prosecutor General, which assumed authority due to the suspected terrorist motive. Security was heightened at potential targets across Hesse, and vigils were held in Hanau and other major cities like Berlin and Hamburg. The Bundestag held a special session to address the killings, with then-Chancellor Angela Merkel condemning the act as "racist extremism." Subsequent official inquiries, including a special committee in the Hesse state parliament, identified critical failures in how authorities had handled prior warnings about the perpetrator. The shootings led to calls for reforms of Germany's gun control laws and the restructuring of domestic intelligence agencies.

Reactions

Political leaders across the spectrum, including President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and AfD figure Alexander Gauland, issued statements condemning the violence. International figures such as Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Emmanuel Macron also expressed solidarity. Major civil society organizations, including the Central Council of Muslims in Germany and the Turkish Community in Germany, organized memorial marches and called for stronger action against hate crimes. The European Union and the United Nations highlighted the attack as part of a dangerous rise in far-right extremism globally. In the cultural sphere, tributes were paid at events like the Berlin International Film Festival and in Bundesliga football matches, where moments of silence were observed.

Category:2020 in Germany Category:Mass shootings in Germany Category:Terrorist incidents in Germany in 2020 Category:Far-right terrorism in Europe Category:History of Hanau