Gunman dead after attack in Heidelberg University lecture hall

A lone gunman has shot and wounded several people in a lecture hall at Heidelberg University. Later reports indicated that one of the victims had died.

The attacker – who was believed to be a student – entered the theatre in Neuenheimer Feld area of the German city on 24 January before opening fire, police said.

He later fled the scene and is now dead after turning the gun on himself, officers added.

Some of his victims were seriously injured, with local TV reporting that four people were hurt.

“A lone perpetrator injured several people in a lecture hall with a rifle,” police said in a tweet. “The attacker himself is dead. Officers are still at the scene with strong forces.”

The cause of the attack is not known but police sources believed the assailant – who was carrying several weapons – did not have political or religious motivation, The Times reported.

Cem Özdemir, Germany’s agriculture minister, who is from Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany where Heidelberg is located, said the news was “shattering”.

“My thoughts are with the injured, with the university staff, with police and all other emergency services,” he said.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com