The gunman who went on a shooting rampage in Hamburg, Germany, killing seven people and injuring several others before turning the gun on himself, was visited by the police weeks before after they received a tip-off which raised concerns about the man's mental health.

The police said that the man co-operated with them and that they did not have enough grounds to seize the gun at the time. The 35-year-old suspected gunman, Philipp F, had been issued a licence to own a gun for sporting purposes.

A new law is being prepared by the government which will have tighter curbs on ownership of the gun, said the interior minister.&nbsp;

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Seven people, which included an unborn baby, were killed by the gunman in the attack which took place at a Jehovah's Witness meeting hall in the city.

The first emergency call was received at 21:04 local time (20:04 GMT) to report that gunshots were fired and the police officers reached the site four minutes later.

A video later appeared in which the gunman was seen firing through a window. He then entered the building where many people had gathered and fired nine magazines of ammunition before he apparently turned the gun on himself.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that there can be a rise in the death toll. German Senator Andy Grote said that many lives were saved by police officers' "fast and decisive actions". He added that the attack was the "worst crime" in the recent history of Hamburg.

Hamburg Police Chief Ralf Martin Meyer on Friday said that the police officers had visited the man in February after an anonymous letter was sent to them claiming that he "bore particular anger toward religious believers, in particular toward Jehovah's Witnesses".

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The letter also stated that he "might be suffering from a mental illness, although it had not been medically diagnosed".

Police stated that the man was co-operative and held an open conversation with the officers. "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 (such) measures," said Chief Meyer.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The gunman who went on a shooting rampage in Hamburg, Germany, killing seven people and injuring several others before turning the gun on himself, was visited by the police weeks before after they received a tip-off which raised concerns about the man's mental health.

The gunman who went on a shooting rampage in Hamburg, Germany, killing seven people and injuring several others before turning the gun on himself, was visited by the police weeks before after they received a tip-off which raised concerns about the man's mental health. The police said that the man co-operated with them and that they did not have enough grounds to seize the gun at the time. The 35-year-old suspected gunman, Philipp F, had been issued a licence to own a gun for sporting purposes. A new law is being prepared by the government which will have tighter curbs on ownership of the gun, said the interior minister. ALSO READ | Hamburg church shooting leaves 8 dead, including unborn child Seven people, which included an unborn baby, were killed by the gunman in the attack which took place at a Jehovah's Witness meeting hall in the city. The first emergency call was received at 21:04 local time (20:04 GMT) to report that gunshots were fired and the police officers reached the site four minutes later. A video later appeared in which the gunman was seen firing through a window. He then entered the building where many people had gathered and fired nine magazines of ammunition before he apparently turned the gun on himself. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that there can be a rise in the death toll. German Senator Andy Grote said that many lives were saved by police officers' "fast and decisive actions". He added that the attack was the "worst crime" in the recent history of Hamburg. Hamburg Police Chief Ralf Martin Meyer on Friday said that the police officers had visited the man in February after an anonymous letter was sent to them claiming that he "bore particular anger toward religious believers, in particular toward Jehovah's Witnesses". WATCH | 6 Killed In German Church Shooting, Police issue "Extreme Danger" warning The letter also stated that he "might be suffering from a mental illness, although it had not been medically diagnosed". Police stated that the man was co-operative and held an open conversation with the officers. "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 (such) measures," said Chief Meyer. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Hamburg shooting: Police were tipped off about gunman’s mental health weeks before attack

At least eight people,&nbsp;including an unborn child, were killed in a shooting at a church in Hamburg, German police said on Thursday.&nbsp;There was "no indication of a terrorist background"&nbsp;to the attack, a spokesperson for the Hamburg prosecution’s office said. The assailant was later declared dead&nbsp;by the security forces.&nbsp;

The police said the shooting took place at a Jehovah’s Witnesses centre at about 9 pm local time (around 2000 GMT). The primary assailant is reported to be a former member of the local community of Jehovah's Witnesses.&nbsp;

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he was left "speechless" by the shooting at a Jehovah’s Witness place of worship in his hometown of Hamburg and his thoughts went out to the victims and their relatives.

"We fear that further victims may die from their severe wounds," he said while thanking the security forces for their work.

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People were alerted about an "extreme danger" in the affected area through a catastrophe warning app by the police.

The police appealed to the residents to stay indoors and avoid going to the area, adding that they have cordoned off the streets surrounding the church.

No exact death toll was shared by the police, but various German national media outlets confirmed that at least eight people had died in the attack, while eight others had been injured.

TV footage showed armed police storming the building and escorting people out with their hands above their heads.

According to the Bild daily newspaper, the shooting happened in a Jehovah's Witness church in the city that has Germany’s biggest port.&nbsp;

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The Jehovah's Witnesses said in a statement that the community was "deeply affected by the horrific attack on its members of the faith in a Kingdom Hall in Hamburg after a service".</div>

Meanwhile, the police have set up an internet portal for people to upload photos and videos "of the crime or relevant events".

In recent years, Germany has been hit by several attacks, carried out by both far-right extremists and militants.&nbsp; 
 
Germany is considered to be having the most stringent rules on&nbsp;gun control in Europe and the country's interior minister said in late 2022 that the government further plans&nbsp;to tighten gun laws after reports of a far-right group allegedly plotting to overthrow the state.

(With inputs from agencies)

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At least eight people, including an unborn child, were killed in a shooting at a church in Hamburg, German police said on Thursday. There was "no indication of a terrorist background" to the attack, a spokesperson for the Hamburg prosecution’s office said.

At least eight people, including an unborn child, were killed in a shooting at a church in Hamburg, German police said on Thursday. There was "no indication of a terrorist background" to the attack, a spokesperson for the Hamburg prosecution’s office said. The assailant was later declared dead by the security forces. The police said the shooting took place at a Jehovah’s Witnesses centre at about 9 pm local time (around 2000 GMT). The primary assailant is reported to be a former member of the local community of Jehovah's Witnesses. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he was left "speechless" by the shooting at a Jehovah’s Witness place of worship in his hometown of Hamburg and his thoughts went out to the victims and their relatives. "We fear that further victims may die from their severe wounds," he said while thanking the security forces for their work. ALSO READ | One killed, two injured in suspected 'terrorist attack' in Tel Aviv People were alerted about an "extreme danger" in the affected area through a catastrophe warning app by the police. The police appealed to the residents to stay indoors and avoid going to the area, adding that they have cordoned off the streets surrounding the church. No exact death toll was shared by the police, but various German national media outlets confirmed that at least eight people had died in the attack, while eight others had been injured. TV footage showed armed police storming the building and escorting people out with their hands above their heads. According to the Bild daily newspaper, the shooting happened in a Jehovah's Witness church in the city that has Germany’s biggest port. WATCH | WION Speed News: Buffalo mass shooter sentenced to life; 1 killed, 3 wounded in Texas mall shooting The Jehovah's Witnesses said in a statement that the community was "deeply affected by the horrific attack on its members of the faith in a Kingdom Hall in Hamburg after a service". Meanwhile, the police have set up an internet portal for people to upload photos and videos "of the crime or relevant events". In recent years, Germany has been hit by several attacks, carried out by both far-right extremists and militants. Germany is considered to be having the most stringent rules on gun control in Europe and the country's interior minister said in late 2022 that the government further plans to tighten gun laws after reports of a far-right group allegedly plotting to overthrow the state. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Hamburg church shooting leaves 8 dead, including unborn child

A Russian court has granted early release to a Danish citizen convicted of "extremism" last year, converting the rest of his six-year sentence to a fine, religious group Jehovah's Witnesses said.

Dennis Christensen, a member of the US-based Christian evangelical movement Jehovah's Witnesses, was arrested in May 2017 after Moscow branded the group as an extremist organisation and banned it.&nbsp;

He was sentenced to six years in prison in February 2019 in a case that drew widespread condemnation.

A judge in the southern Kursk region, where Christensen is serving his sentence, held his first parole hearing Tuesday and mitigated the remainder of his sentence to a fine of 400,000 rubles ($5,800), the Jehovah's Witnesses said in a statement.

Christensen is likely to be released within days of the decision, as the prosecution does not intend to appeal the ruling, the group said.

"We are pleased that Dennis may be going home to his wife, family, and friends in the coming weeks," it said.

Christensen was the first to be convicted by Russian courts among some 175 Jehovah's Witnesses who were sentenced to prison terms or put under arrest before trial following the ban on the group.

International rights groups, as well as the European Union, had urged Russia to release him.

A Russian court has granted early release to a Danish citizen convicted of "extremism" last year, converting the rest of his six-year sentence to a fine, religious group Jehovah's Witnesses said.

A Russian court has granted early release to a Danish citizen convicted of "extremism" last year, converting the rest of his six-year sentence to a fine, religious group Jehovah's Witnesses said. Dennis Christensen, a member of the US-based Christian evangelical movement Jehovah's Witnesses, was arrested in May 2017 after Moscow branded the group as an extremist organisation and banned it. He was sentenced to six years in prison in February 2019 in a case that drew widespread condemnation. A judge in the southern Kursk region, where Christensen is serving his sentence, held his first parole hearing Tuesday and mitigated the remainder of his sentence to a fine of 400,000 rubles ($5,800), the Jehovah's Witnesses said in a statement. Christensen is likely to be released within days of the decision, as the prosecution does not intend to appeal the ruling, the group said. "We are pleased that Dennis may be going home to his wife, family, and friends in the coming weeks," it said. Christensen was the first to be convicted by Russian courts among some 175 Jehovah's Witnesses who were sentenced to prison terms or put under arrest before trial following the ban on the group. International rights groups, as well as the European Union, had urged Russia to release him.

Russian court to release Danish citizen after extremism charge

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Hamburg shooting: Police were tipped off about gunman’s mental health weeks before attack

Hamburg church shooting leaves 8 dead, including unborn child

Russian court to release Danish citizen after extremism charge