HANAU, Germany (AP) — Hundreds of grieving people flocked to Friday prayers in the mosques of the German town of Hanau, two days after a racially motivated shooting shook the country and prompted fresh calls for a crackdown on far-right extremism.
Germany’s top security official said authorities would step up the police presence throughout the country and keep a closer watch on mosques and other sites, in a first reaction to the rampage. In Hanau, German and Turkish flags flew at half-staff outside a mosque where worshipers were gathering Friday.
The man, identified as Tobias Rathjen, left a number of rambling texts and videos espousing racist views and claiming to have been under surveillance since birth.
More than 300 people attended prayers at the Turkish-speaking DITIB mosque attended by at least one of the victims.
“The mood is subdued,” said Adam Arslan, who was friends with Gokhan Gultekin, who died in the attack. “I cannot accept this crime.”