Via – Newsweek

A shooting near a synagogue in Halle, Germany, on Wednesday left multiple dead, authorities said.

Halle Police confirmed that multiple shots were fired and the alleged perpetrator, or perpetrators, fled the scene in a vehicle. The police noted that they were working hard and requested that people in the area stay inside their apartment.

Those who weren’t at home were encouraged to find a safe place to remain until police determined it was safe to leave. Multiple people, according to the police department, were killed in the shooting. Deutsche Welle, a German state-owned broadcaster, and other media outlets listed the number of victims as two.

An update later confirmed that police arrested one person but residents were encouraged to stay alert. Despite the arrest, a strong police presence remained in the area and would do so until it was secure.

Wednesday’s shooting occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is a period of time for people to ask for forgiveness for their sins and transgressions. Jewish people observing the holiday will fast from sundown on Tuesday until sundown on Wednesday and spend the majority of the day in synagogue engaged in prayer.

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