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| Munich Gunman Portrayed as Having Planned Attack for a Year | Munich Gunman Portrayed as Having Planned Attack for a Year |
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| MUNICH — The teenage gunman who killed nine people in a rampage in Munich had been treated for depression and paranoia and appeared to have begun planning the attack about a year ago, the German authorities said on Sunday. | MUNICH — The teenage gunman who killed nine people in a rampage in Munich had been treated for depression and paranoia and appeared to have begun planning the attack about a year ago, the German authorities said on Sunday. |
| The gunman, Ali Sonboly, who was the 18-year-old son of Iranian immigrant parents and held both German and Iranian citizenship, had sought refuge in the internet, where he immersed himself in a violent video game and the so-called darknet of encrypted networks, through which the authorities suspect that he acquired the pistol used to carry out the attack. | The gunman, Ali Sonboly, who was the 18-year-old son of Iranian immigrant parents and held both German and Iranian citizenship, had sought refuge in the internet, where he immersed himself in a violent video game and the so-called darknet of encrypted networks, through which the authorities suspect that he acquired the pistol used to carry out the attack. |
| Mr. Sonboly appeared to have begun planning the attack after visiting the site of a 2009 school shooting in Winnenden, Germany, in which 15 people were killed, initial evidence gleaned from his computer showed. | Mr. Sonboly appeared to have begun planning the attack after visiting the site of a 2009 school shooting in Winnenden, Germany, in which 15 people were killed, initial evidence gleaned from his computer showed. |
| “We found a manifesto of his, in which he considers such attacks,” said Robert Heimberger, the chief of the Bavarian State Criminal Police. “From photos we found on a digital camera, we know that he visited the site and took pictures there.” | “We found a manifesto of his, in which he considers such attacks,” said Robert Heimberger, the chief of the Bavarian State Criminal Police. “From photos we found on a digital camera, we know that he visited the site and took pictures there.” |
| Mr. Sonboly was “obsessed with that attack,” Chief Heimberger said. | Mr. Sonboly was “obsessed with that attack,” Chief Heimberger said. |
| Later on Sunday, the Munich police said they had arrested a 16-year-old Afghan on suspicion of knowing about the planned attack but failing to inform the authorities. | Later on Sunday, the Munich police said they had arrested a 16-year-old Afghan on suspicion of knowing about the planned attack but failing to inform the authorities. |
| The Afghan teenager, who was not further identified, was a friend of Mr. Sonboly’s and went to the police on Friday night and was questioned. But after searching the teenager’s home, the police found conflicting information, leading them to detain the young man. | The Afghan teenager, who was not further identified, was a friend of Mr. Sonboly’s and went to the police on Friday night and was questioned. But after searching the teenager’s home, the police found conflicting information, leading them to detain the young man. |
| Although most of the victims in Friday’s shooting were also teenagers from the Munich area, the police and prosecutors said they had found no links between them and the gunman. The victims were three 14-year-olds, two 15-year-olds, and individuals ages 17, 19, 20 and 45. | Although most of the victims in Friday’s shooting were also teenagers from the Munich area, the police and prosecutors said they had found no links between them and the gunman. The victims were three 14-year-olds, two 15-year-olds, and individuals ages 17, 19, 20 and 45. |
| The shooting occurred at the Olympia mall, in a neighborhood to the west of downtown Munich. The count of those injured rose to 35, including several who had been injured elsewhere in the city in the panic that followed the attack, officials said. | |
| Emergency calls to police had led them to believe there could be as many as three gunmen. With the rampage coming on the heels of the attacks by a Tunisian immigrant who killed 84 people in Nice, France, and by a young Afghan refugee wielding an ax and a knife who wounded five people on a train in Germany, fear spread quickly. | Emergency calls to police had led them to believe there could be as many as three gunmen. With the rampage coming on the heels of the attacks by a Tunisian immigrant who killed 84 people in Nice, France, and by a young Afghan refugee wielding an ax and a knife who wounded five people on a train in Germany, fear spread quickly. |
| And late Sunday, at least one man was killed and 10 people injured after an explosion near a music festival in Ansbach, Germany, according to German officials. | |
| Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, the spokesman for the Munich prosecutors’ office, said initial evidence had not indicated any kind of political motivation for Mr. Sonboly’s attack. | Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, the spokesman for the Munich prosecutors’ office, said initial evidence had not indicated any kind of political motivation for Mr. Sonboly’s attack. |
| Instead, it appeared that Mr. Sonboly had used a Facebook account opened in May under a false name, or the name of a real girl who was not involved in the shooting, to invite people to the McDonald’s across from the mall, promising free food. Five of the victims were found inside the restaurant, two others on the sidewalk in front, one in front of an electronics market and one inside the mall. | Instead, it appeared that Mr. Sonboly had used a Facebook account opened in May under a false name, or the name of a real girl who was not involved in the shooting, to invite people to the McDonald’s across from the mall, promising free food. Five of the victims were found inside the restaurant, two others on the sidewalk in front, one in front of an electronics market and one inside the mall. |
| None of the victims were schoolmates of the gunman or appeared to have responded to the invitation over social media. “None of those named in the commentary under the posting were among the victims,” Chief Heimberger said. | None of the victims were schoolmates of the gunman or appeared to have responded to the invitation over social media. “None of those named in the commentary under the posting were among the victims,” Chief Heimberger said. |
| Some reports identified the gunman as David Ali Sonboly, but neighbors in his apartment building said everyone had known him as Ali. His parents remained too distraught to question, Chief Heimberger said. | Some reports identified the gunman as David Ali Sonboly, but neighbors in his apartment building said everyone had known him as Ali. His parents remained too distraught to question, Chief Heimberger said. |
| Chief Heimberger stressed that officials had only begun their investigation, but that evidence collected so far painted a picture of a mentally disturbed teenager obsessed with mass shootings and first-person-shooter video games, including Counter-Strike: Source. | Chief Heimberger stressed that officials had only begun their investigation, but that evidence collected so far painted a picture of a mentally disturbed teenager obsessed with mass shootings and first-person-shooter video games, including Counter-Strike: Source. |
| Medical records showed that the gunman had received inpatient psychiatric treatment for two months in 2015 and continued to be seen as an outpatient, Mr. Steinkraus-Koch said. Prescription medication for treatment of depression was found in Mr. Sonboly’s home, Mr. Steinkraus-Koch said, but it was not clear if he had been taking the medication regularly. | Medical records showed that the gunman had received inpatient psychiatric treatment for two months in 2015 and continued to be seen as an outpatient, Mr. Steinkraus-Koch said. Prescription medication for treatment of depression was found in Mr. Sonboly’s home, Mr. Steinkraus-Koch said, but it was not clear if he had been taking the medication regularly. |
| After a brief altercation with the police, the gunman fired a bullet into his head, Mr. Steinkraus-Koch said. The pistol, a Glock 17, was a former theater weapon that had been restored to be capable of shooting live rounds. | After a brief altercation with the police, the gunman fired a bullet into his head, Mr. Steinkraus-Koch said. The pistol, a Glock 17, was a former theater weapon that had been restored to be capable of shooting live rounds. |
| Pressed for further details about the weapon and the gunman’s activities on the internet, Chief Heimberger said he knew little about the murky world of the darknet, which is accessible only by certain software and is used by criminals and terrorists to communicate without being detected. | Pressed for further details about the weapon and the gunman’s activities on the internet, Chief Heimberger said he knew little about the murky world of the darknet, which is accessible only by certain software and is used by criminals and terrorists to communicate without being detected. |