German suspect planned 'massacre,' had explosives in car

The suspect in an attack on a German synagogue on Judaism's holiest day had around four kilograms (nearly nine pounds) of explosives in his car and wanted to carry out a massacre, Germany's top prosecutor said.

Many questions remained about how the man was able to get hold of the weapons he used in the assault, in which two people outside the building were killed.

As officials sought to reassure an unsettled Jewish community and address concern about rising right-wing extremism, Germany's president visited the scene of the attack in Halle and urged his nation to stand up for its Jewish compatriots.

The assailant a German citizen identified by prosecutors as Stephan B. tried but failed to force his way into the synagogue as around 80 people were inside. He then shot and killed a woman in the street outside and a man at a nearby kebab shop. He is now in custody.

"What we experienced yesterday was terror," said Peter Frank, the chief federal prosecutor. "The suspect, Stephan B., aimed to carry out a massacre in the synagogue in Halle."
"That was a shock for us. It was Yom Kippur, all phones were switched off. We had to understand what was going on first then switch on my phone and then call the police," he said. "It was really panic. But I have to say after that, when the police came, we continued with the worship service, that lasted another three hours, the synagogue worship service."