That is what the police in the German city have said. On February 7, officers visited him after receiving the tip. “He cooperated, was happy to provide information, it was an open conversation,” says the Hamburg police chief.
‘He was ashamed’
Both the weapon and the safe in which it was kept gave no cause for complaint, ‘except for a small thing, because there was a projectile on the safe’. The officers gave him a reprimand for that. Philipp F. apologized, ‘of course he was ashamed too’.
Eight people were killed in the attack. In addition to the perpetrator, there are four men, two women and an unborn child. The child’s mother survived. Eight others were seriously injured, at least four of whom were life-threatening.
The writer of the anonymous tip wanted F. checked because he allegedly had weapons in his house, says the police chief. According to the anonymous letter, F. was especially angry with religious followers, especially Jehovah’s Witnesses and his former employer.
Permit for handgun
Philipp F. had a permit for a Heckler & Koch P30, a semi-automatic handgun. When he got his gun license, he was also checked. At the time there was no doubt about its reliability.
Circumstances encountered by the officers during their visit also gave no indications ‘that could indicate a mental illness’. After the police visit, F. disappeared from the radar of the police again.
The shooting was filmed by a neighbor. You can see those images here:
