Nine people dead after Munich mall shooting, children wounded

At least nine people are dead and many injured after a shooting occurred within the Olympia-Einkaufszentrum shopping mall in Munich, Germany, according to multiple media outlets. Early reports cited a police search for three men armed with rifles, but the latest from officials say the incident involved a lone gunman. Munich police stated via Facebook that the gunman likely took his own life.

The Munich police chief said the victims wounded in the attack included children, according to the Associated Press. The authorities identified the perpetrator as an 18-year-old German-Iranian from Munich. The attacker’s motives remain unclear, but officials are investigating the possibility of terrorist links.

BREAKING: Munich police are using the term "suspected terrorism" in connection with the shooting at a city mall.

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 22, 2016

The number of people killed rose from earlier Friday when Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Hermann said at least three people were killed after the shooting at a shopping mall, Der Spiegel reported Friday. German anti-terrorism force, GSG9, has been dispatched to the scene, Tagesschau reported shortly after 9 p.m. local time.

Across the Atlantic in Washington, D.C., President Barack Obama said in a statement that he condemned the “apparent terrorist attack” that took place in Munich, and pledged to support Germany as it investigates what led to the shooting.

Police halt traffic on a road near to the scene of a shooting rampage at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich, Germany July 22, 2016. REUTERS/Michael Dalder

After the mass shooting at the shopping mall, police said there were unconfirmed reports of more violence in the city center, advising people to stay away from public areas.

Unconfirmed reports of more violence and possible #gunfire in the City Center. Situation is unclear. Please avoid public Areas. #munich #oez

— Polizei München (@PolizeiMuenchen) July 22, 2016

Law enforcement officials confirmed there are “multiple deaths” during a press conference, according to German media outlet Tagesschau’s website shortly after 5 p.m. local time. Munich’s public transit also has shut down after the shooting, according to the Associated Press, which cited Munich’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

BREAKING: Munich's Sueddeutsche Zeitung paper says city's transit system has shut down following shooting at a mall.

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 22, 2016

Police advised people to stay indoors, according to Tagesschau, a German media outlet. By 10 p.m. local time, authorities evacuated all people who had been within the mall, BR reported.

The Munich Police Department tweeted that it did not know where the location of the suspect or suspects, saying, “At this time we don’t know the location of the suspects. Watch out and avoid going outside.”

Wir wissen derzeit nicht wo sich die Täter befinden.Passt auf Euch auf und meidet nach wie vor die Öffentlichkeit #oez #münchen #schießerei

— Polizei München (@PolizeiMuenchen) July 22, 2016

As the search for suspects continued, Munich Police asked people not to take photos or video of police action, since that might tip off suspects. Police relayed this message on social media in both English and French. Late Friday, Munich police tweeted a Facebook safety check-in button, so that people could alert loved ones of their safety.