People in cities across Germany have paid tribute to the victims of a deadly attack that targeted immigrant communities.

At least 9 people were killed after a 43-year-old German man went on a shooting rampage in the western town in Hanau, targeting customers at two separate shisha lounges.

When the killing spree was over, police say the suspect, Tobias Rathjen, drove home where he killed his 72-year-old mother and then turned the gun on himself.

Most of the victims had an immigrant background, prompting a backlash against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which holds hardline anti-migrant and Islamophobic views seen to have "supplied the attacker with [ideological] ammunition".

Commenting on the incident, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said: "Right-wing terrorism has become a threat for Germany again".

Police are investigating whether Rathjen had any contact with or support from other organisations or individuals who advocated violence.

The attack follows several other far-right incidents in Germany, including the murder of politician Walter Lubcke last June and a shooting at a synagogue in Halle in October that left two dead.

Earlier this month, police arrested 12 neo-Nazis across several German states, believed to have been part of a cell coordinating attacks against multiple mosques, apparently influenced by the Christchurch massacre in New Zealand last year.

Source: Al Jazeera