Munich attack – that’s why so many shots were fired

Attack in Munich
That's why the police fired so many shots at the attacker

The suspected Munich attacker was not neutralized with a single, targeted shot; he was showered with straight bullets. These are the reasons.

Officials who protect a facility such as the Israeli consulate in Munich are prepared for the worst case scenario, for a professional, well-armed attacker or even a group of them. They are prepared for a different kind of emergency than an official who is simply checking whether motor vehicles also respect the barrier during a parade.

At the same time, the suspected attacker in Munich was immediately recognized as extremely dangerous. He was armed with a rifle and shot at the officers. This clarified the situation; there was no situation like in Solingen, where the police were initially unable to identify which of the people in the commotion was the suspected attacker. Both factors were clear in Munich, which is why the police were able to react quickly and decisively.

Weapon for intensive gunfights like in Munich

For this purpose, the emergency services are equipped with a submachine gun. Typically the Heckler & Koch HK MP5, which is being replaced in some cases by the MP7. There are short versions of the MP5 for concealed carrying. The police carry them openly, in long versions and with a shoulder rest. In terms of appearance and size, it is not a “small” pistol; the MP5 can be almost 80 centimeters long.

The word “pistol” refers to the ammunition that the weapon fires. It corresponds to the widely used pistol caliber 9 × 19 mm – also known as 9 mm Luger or 9 mm Parabellum. Compared to a rifle, this is a small caliber; the length of the cartridge is less than 30 mm.

The choice of a pistol cartridge therefore limits the range of applications. A submachine gun is not suitable for targeted shots at great distances. The effective range ends at 150 to 200 meters. In urban environments or even indoors, this is perfectly sufficient.

Shots fired near consulate
Suspect in Munich probably linked to militant Islamist group

4 hours ago

The “idea” of the submachine gun is not the targeted single shot. Its strength lies in bursts, the sheer quantity of projectiles. The largest magazine can hold up to 50 rounds and fire them in continuous fire or bursts. In order to use such a weapon, the conditions have to be right. It can hardly or not at all be used in a busy market place like Solingen.

Dangerous even with an old weapon

In Munich, the emergency services were able to use their dangerous weapons without endangering others when they caught the perpetrator. When an armed attacker has no hostages, the top priority is to eliminate him. With his old but effective rifle, the 18-year-old could have killed a police officer or a random passer-by at any time. The videos circulating show him trying to break down the door of a house with his bayonet. He didn't succeed. But the scene makes it clear how quickly the situation can escalate. For example, if the door hadn't been locked and there had been civilians in the house. The police had no choice but to eliminate him.

The clips show the police confronting him in the green area of ​​a building complex. Two teams of two approached on the street under the protection of vehicles. Others probably approached from another direction. Then the police unleashed maximum fire on him. The shots can no longer be heard individually on recordings, so close is their sequence.

Attack in Munich
An assassination attempt with a bayonet and a World War II rifle

21 hours ago

Many shots keep the opponent down

And that is intentional. The aim is to direct as much fire as possible at the attacker. This is intended to hit him, but even if that doesn't work because he cleverly takes cover, the hail of bullets keeps him down and makes it difficult or even impossible for him to move or emerge from cover and shoot again. If the attacker is not a trained fighter, the stress caused by the impact of the projectiles also has an effect. The many shots have nothing to do with “Rambo style”. They are the right operational concept for this case.

The videos also show that the perpetrator acted very clumsily. Completely different from the deadly precision of the shooters in the attack on the magazine “Charlie Hebdo” in Paris in 2015. He walked around openly with his rifle and did not seek cover. During the exchange of fire, several bullets hit him in the chest, and he succumbed to these injuries.