A neighbour of the Munich shopping mall attacker told reporters on Saturday (July 23) morning that residents in the building were in shock after learning that the gunman had been living next door, and described him as "totally inconspicuous".
An 18-year-old German-Iranian gunman who apparently acted alone opened fire near the busy Munich shopping mall on Friday (July 22) evening, killing at least nine people.
The pistol-wielding attacker, whose body was found on a side street near the mall, has not been officially identified.
Police commandos, armed with night vision equipment and dogs, raided an apartment in the Munich neighbourhood of Maxvorstadt early on Saturday where the German newspaper Bild said the gunman lived with his parents.
There was a huge police presence in the street, which lies just north of Munich's old city.
Chauan Hussein, who lives in the building, said her family had regular interaction with the attacker's father and brother.
"I never took note of the boy. I have never actually met the 18-year-old boy, but I have often seen his dad because our three houses are linked on the basement level. And he (the father) is a very normal guy, correct, always said 'hello', had a good relationship with my dad as they are both taxi drivers and every now and then talked about their job," she said, adding that her brother played football with the attacker's brother.
The neighbourhood was in shock, she said.
"I never saw him, possibly he was clinically...well you know he did not draw any attention. I heard he was delivering newspapers. A totally inconspicuous guy and I am surprised that it is happening in our neighbourhood," she said.
"I didn't sleep at all because my boyfriend had to go to work. I asked him last night not to go but he went anyway because his boss asked him to. I am crying non-stop. My sister's friend was also among the people who were shot so we are all shocked. No one is sleeping quietly," she added.
Authorities said it was too early to say whether it was a terrorist attack but that the shooter was believed to have staged the attack alone, opening fire in a fast food restaurant before moving to the mall.
In addition to determining the motive, police will have to find out how the 18-year-old got the firearm used in the attack in a country whose gun control system is described by the U.S. Congress Library as being "among the most stringent in Europe."
"I haven't heard anything like "Allahu Akbar" or anything like that. His dad spoke with me but but never about religion or anything like that. I think it must be something psychological," said Chauan Hussein.
Police earlier said they were investigating a video in which the gunman is heard shouting "I am German" and exchanging racial slurs and profanities with another man
Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to meet her chief of staff, Peter Altmaier, and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and a host of intelligence officials on Saturday to review the incident.
