German police visited the Hamburg shooter's home a month ago but found no grounds to confiscate his gun despite receiving a tip-off about his mental health and 'ill feelings' toward Jehovah's Witnesses.
The 35-year-old suspect – named only as Phillip F – allegedly stormed into a centre for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg's Alsterdorf area about 9pm local time on Thursday and mercilessly began firing at those inside before turning the gun on himself.
The gunman opened fire at a Jehovah's Witnesses centre in Hamburg about 9pm on Thursday. Picture: Gregor Fischer/Getty Images Hamburg Police Chief Ralf Martin Meyer said when officers arrived at his house in February the suspect cooperated and had an open conversation with the police who found no grounds to take away his firearm.“The bottom line is that an anonymous tip in which someone says they're worried a person might have a psychological illness, isn't in itself a basis for measures," Chief Meyer said.
The German government is now under pressure to tighten gun controls with the interior minister indicating new legislation would be introduced soon.
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