As a former Jehovah's Witness, Oliver Pocher received many press inquiries after the horrific shooting in Hamburg. The comedian made a statement on Instagram. For the time being, there is nothing to say about it, said Pocher, except "heartfelt condolences to everyone who is affected, the relatives and everyone who had to witness this terrible act".

On Thursday evening, a former member of the religious community in the Alsterdorf district of Hamburg shot several people and ultimately himself. "It has now become known that he is a former Jehovah's Witness. This is a situation that I am aware of," says Pocher in his Story. "There was probably a lot of frustration. I can certainly understand that in a way, but of course that's no reason for such an act," emphasizes the comedian.

He then clarifies: "The handling of those excluded from Jehovah's Witnesses is very rigorous. (...) They are already being isolated," explains Pocher. A "difficult situation" but "of course no motive," he makes clear.

In the RTL documentary "Absolut Oliver Pocher", the comedian spoke in detail about his childhood in the religious community. "You don't celebrate birthdays, no Christmas, no Easter. We don't do Mother's Day either," he said in it. You are not allowed to take part in many aspects of life, even as a student he felt this first hand. Class trips were also taboo.

"It's a range of things that you don't do - and that make you completely an outsider," said Pocher. His trump card: "Right from the start I had the chance and luck that I had a very distinctive character and was then able to counteract it with humor and comedy," said Pocher in the documentary.

At the end of his Instagram story, he once again expresses his sincere condolences.

Source: Instagram / RTL