News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Munich-shooting-police-main_article_image.jpg
AP Photo/Sebatian Widmann
World News

Christian youth group caught up in Munich shooting

by Hannah Tooley

A gunman who murdered nine people and injured 16 others including children at a Munich shopping centre was an 18-year-old German-Iranian, police believe.

The teenager, who has not been named, opened fire in a McDonald's before rampaging through the nearby Olympia-Einkaufszentrum mall on Friday evening.

AP Photo/Sebatian Widmann

The Gathering Youth Ministry group was on a pilgrimage to join Pope Francis for World Youth Day in Poland, starting next week.

They had been eating dinner near the mall when gunfire erupted outside.

Youth Minister Bob Schrimpf tolf NBC 7 that he was with six other adults and ten teenagers when the shooting happened.

He said: "It's traumatizing. I'm half in shock myself right now. It's hard to process. You come face to face with that. It's a lot of panic."

AP Photo/Sebastian Widmann

Mr Schrimpf said that people did not know how to act: "Just not knowing where to go or what to do. There was really nobody telling you what to do."

He said: "We prayed for the men who perpetrated the attacks tonight. We pray for our world. We know it's broken. It's not perfect. I just don't want to let fear win."

Munich Police have urged people to avoid public places.

Hundreds of people on Twitter used the hashtag #OffeneTur - or #OpenDoor - to invite people to stay if they were unable to get home.

AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate