After the fatal shooting during an event of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hamburg, the investigation into the bloody deed will continue on Friday. Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD) announced a press conference for noon, at which details of the crime and the status of the investigation should be announced.
Several people were killed or injured by gunfire during Thursday night's event. According to media reports, six or seven people died and at least eight others were injured. The perpetrator may be dead, but according to information from security circles, the police classify his act as a rampage. The background is initially unclear. So far it is also not known what kind of event of Jehovah's Witnesses it was.
But what kind of religious community is that? The Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian community with their own Bible interpretation. The followers believe in Jehovah as "almighty God and Creator" and are said to submit to strict rules. They are convinced that a new world is at hand and that they will be saved as a chosen church. Worldwide, Jehovah's Witnesses have approximately eight million members. The "world headquarters" is in New York. The German community, with fewer than 200,000 members, is one of the largest in Europe.
The Jehovah's Witnesses have no paid clergy. Their services are held in "Kingdom Halls". Their most important publications are "The Watchtower" and "Awake!", they believe in an imminent end of the world - and have been for quite a while. The strictly organized group was founded in the USA towards the end of the 19th century by the businessman Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) and has been financed by voluntary donations ever since. Under the Nazi regime, the religious community was banned and persecuted.
The Jehovah's Witnesses are distant from the state. They do not take part in elections for religious reasons. Excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco and celebrating according to the Christian festival calendar are rejected, as are blood transfusions. Again and again there are reports of people leaving the faith community who, because of their distance, are rejected even within their families.
