Munich police shoot dead ‘suspicious’ man in ‘major’ operation in city centre

LONDON — Munich police shot dead a “suspicious person” in the Karolinenplatz area of ​​southern Germany on Thursday morning, authorities said, adding that they had launched a “major operation.”

“The police officers spotted a person who appeared to be carrying a firearm,” Munich police said in a statement on social media. “The emergency services used their service weapons and the person was hit and injured.”

The area was cordoned off and a helicopter flew overhead, police said. “There is currently no indication of any other suspects,” police said, adding that no other injuries had been reported.

The shooting took place next to the city’s Nazi documentation center, police said.

“A large number of emergency services are en route to the scene,” police said. “We ask that you avoid the area if possible.”

The Nazi Documentation Center is one of the city’s most popular museums. It is located halfway between the famous Karolinenplatz and Königsplatz squares, just northwest of the medieval Old Town. It is less than 150 meters from the Israeli Consulate.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that there had been a “shooting incident” near the consulate, saying the building had been closed on Thursday, the anniversary of the deadly terrorist attack at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

“No consulate staff was injured in the incident,” the ministry spokesman said. “The shooter was neutralized by German security forces and the incident is under their control.”

This is a developing story. Check back regularly for updates.

ABC News’ Joe Simonetti, Victoria Beaule and Dana Savir contributed to this report.