Suspect arrested after shots fired at mosque in Germany

BERLIN (AA) - German police have arrested a suspect after several shots were fired at a mosque in the eastern city of Halle on Sunday.

At least three bullets hit the windows of the mosque run by the Islamic Cultural Centrum of Halle, but no one was injured in the incident, police said in a statement.

A 55-year old-man, living in an apartment across the mosque, was identified as a possible suspect, after the police received information from several witnesses.

Police have found a long gun and a gas pistol, during searches at the suspect’s apartment.

The suspect had no record of criminal offenses, but investigations are continuing, police said.

Germany has witnessed growing racism and Islamophobia in recent years, fueled by the propaganda of far-right groups and parties, which have attempted to stoke fear of Muslims and immigrants to win more votes.

A country of over 82 million people, Germany has the second-largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France. Among the country's nearly 4.7 million Muslims, 3 million are of Turkish origin.

BERLIN (AA) - German police have arrested a suspect after several shots were fired at a mosque in the eastern city of Halle on Sunday.

At least three bullets hit the windows of the mosque run by the Islamic Cultural Centrum of Halle, but no one was injured in the incident, police said in a statement.

A 55-year old-man, living in an apartment across the mosque, was identified as a possible suspect, after the police received information from several witnesses.

Police have found a long gun and a gas pistol, during searches at the suspect’s apartment.

The suspect had no record of criminal offenses, but investigations are continuing, police said.

A country of over 82 million people, Germany has the second-largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France. Among the country's nearly 4.7 million Muslims, 3 million are of Turkish origin.