
The Yom Kippur shooter intended to carry out a 'massacre' and was found carrying close to nine pounds of explosives, Germany's top prosecutor has said as photos reveal the injuries he sustained in a battle with police.

The anti-Semitic gunman shot dead two people in Halle, Germany on Wednesday after trying and failing to massacre worshippers inside a synagogue on Yom Kippur.

He was escorted by police officers from a helicopter to his arraignment on Thursday ahead of an appearance in court, and had a white bandage on his neck from where he was injured the day before.

'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.'

Questions remain as to how the assailant, Stephan Balliet, 27, was able to get hold of the weapons he used in the assault. Frank said his weapons were 'apparently homemade' and the explosives in the car were built into 'numerous devices.'

The suspect, who livestreamed the attack on a popular gaming site while ranting in English about Jews and posted a 'manifesto' online before embarking on it, 'wanted to create a worldwide effect' and encourage others to imitate him, the prosecutor added.

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.

It comes after it was revealed that Balliet was a loner who lived with his mother. Balliet spent hours online and was a user of Twitch - a live-streaming service popular with video gamers - where he shared footage his rampage on Wednesday in chilling echoes of the Chirstchurch mosque attack in New Zealand.

Balliet is escorted by special police officers after allegedly attempting to carry out a massacre on the synagogue

Special police officers escort suspected neo-Nazi Stephan Balliet from a helocopter to his arraignment at the Federal Supreme Court in Karlsruhe, Germany on Thursday. He was escorted by police officers from a helicopter to his arraignment on Thursday ahead of an appearance in court, and had a white bandage on his neck from where he was injured the day before

Balliet is accused of double murder and attempted murder in nine cases, according to the German Attorney General

Stephan Balliet, 27, has been identified as the German synagogue attacker. His father described him as an angry loner who was always online and 'always blamed everyone else' for his problems

Balliet shot two people dead and wounded at least two others in Halle, Germany, on Wednesday after trying and failing to massacre worshippers inside the city's synagogue

Jews inside the synagogue for Yom Kippur prayers described watching in horror on CCTV cameras as Balliet tried to shoot his way inside the prayer house before laying explosives outside and dousing the building in flammable liquid

Balliet's father, who was not named, told Bild that his son was an angry young man who 'was not at peace with himself or with the world, and always blamed everyone else' for his problems.

It was also revealed that Balliet posted a manifesto online a week ago where he specifically talks about attacking the synagogue in Halle while outlining his plan to kill 'anti-whites', including Jews.

In the wake of the attack, Jewish community leaders criticised German authorities for failing to do enough to combat rising anti-Semitism, while demanding round-the-clock security for Jewish sites in the country.

'The fact that, 75 years after the Holocaust, such groups are gaining influence in Germany speaks volumes,' Ronald Lauder, head of the World Jewish Congress, said.

Roman R, who was inside the building, said the majority of the 50 people inside hid away from the gunfire while he and around five other men barricaded the door to the prayer room and prepared to fight

Balliet was unable to get inside the synagogue so drove around the corner to a kebab shop where he shot another man dead, before firing several shots into the street (pictured, bullet holes in the shop window)

Around a week before the attack took place, a manifesto appeared online outlining plans for the attack which included killing 'anti-whites', along with pictures of home-made weapons and ammunition

People place down flowers in front of a synagogue in Halle, Germany, where a woman was fatally shot after the attacker failed to get inside the prayer house

Mourners light candles in Halle on Thursday evening, outside the synagogue where the gunman tried to force his way in

Mourners leave the Pauluskirche in Halle after a vigil for the victims of the anti-Semitic shootings in the city on Wednesday

Candles are left in the market square in Halle tonight after an anti-Semitic gunman went on the rampage yesterday

A woman lights candles at a mourning site on the market place in Halle. Jewish community leaders have called on the German government to do more to combat rising racism

A cardboard sign reading 'no place for anti-Semitism' sits among tributes in the town of Halle a day after an attempted massacre at the synagogue

The attack began in the city of Halle at the synagogue where two people were shot dead, before another two were shot and wounded in Weidersdorf. Police finally arrested the suspect north of Zeitz, around two hours later

Around 50 terrified worshippers - including 10 Americans - were trapped inside the synagogue during the attack, which they watched unfold on security cameras that broadcast to TV screens inside the prayer house.

Roman R, 31, told local media that he was in the middle of Yom Kippur prayers when he heard a bang and went into the corridor to see smoke coming into the building.

The majority of those inside - including the elderly and children - went to find shelter while Roman and five other men barricaded the door to the prayer room, called police, and then prepared themselves to fight back.

He described watching as Balliet shot at the wooden doors, believing they would give way any moment and that he would come inside and attack them.

Fortunately the doors held, explosives that Balliet placed at the doors did not go off, and flammable liquid he sprayed at the building failed to light.

After failing to get into the synagogue, Roman watched as Balliet left to continue his attack elsewhere as police arrived. He remained trapped inside the building for hours afterwards before finally being freed once officers had disarmed the explosives. Afterwards worshippers were pictured hugging and laughing as they were led away.

Balliet was not a known extremist, Bild reported, and appears to have self-radicalised while living alone with his mother in Heldbra, a village around 25 miles from Halle, and spending lots of his time online.

He born in Eisleben, another village close to Heldbra and lived with both of his parents until they divorced when he was 14 years old

A man and a woman were shot dead in an attack on a synagogue in Halle, central Germany, on Wednesday, while several others were injured. A gunman is pictured outside a kebab shop close to the synagogue

Jewish leaders say the attacker tried to get into the synagogue in Halle during prayers for Yom Kippur, but were stopped by 'security measures'. A woman was then shot dead in the street outside (pictured, the attacker)

Armed police swarmed to the scene after the gunman opened fire. Witnesses said he used a submachine gun before throwing a grenade into a Jewish cemetery

A body lies in the street outside the synagogue, believed to be that of a female passerby who was gunned down when an attacker failed to get into the synagogue

A kebab shop where a man is thought to have been shot dead after the gunman threw an explosive at the entrance, then fired shots into the restaurant

An armed officer runs to his vehicle in Halle. Police say they have arrested one suspect and are looking for others

Policemen climb over a wall close to the site of a shooting in Halle an der Saale, eastern Germany

Special police forces officers armed with sub-machine guns patrol after the attack in Halle an der Saale on Wednesday

A police robot examines evidence at the scene of a shooting in Halle, eastern Germany, outside a synagogue. There are reports that grenades were used during the attack

After that he went to live with his mother in Heldbra, which is where he was staying at the time of the attack, although he routinely saw his father who lives in Benndorf, about a five minute drive away.

The father said he last saw his son on Tuesday, around 24 hours before the attack, when he was confrontational.

'There was always a fight, my opinion did not count,' he said. 'I couldn't reach him any more.'

While the man didn't reveal details of his final conversations with his Balliet, when asked whether he thought about his son after reports spread of an attack on a synagogue, he stayed silent and began weeping.

Records seen by Bilt reveal that Balliet graduated from high school and went on to study chemistry for two semesters at a higher education institution, but had to abandon his studies after a serious stomach operation.

It is not clear exactly what he did for work after quitting his studies, though a neighbour said he was working as a broadcasting technician at the time of the attack.

Video taken of Balliet during the rampage suggests he was at least familiar with combat tactics, even if he had no formal training, as he can be seen taking shelter while firing his weapons and moving around as a solider might.

In footage that he streamed online, Balliet also claims he built his weapons himself, suggesting a familiarity with mechanical engineering, though he can also be heard lamenting the fact that his guns keep jamming.

In a manifesto which was posted online as a PDF document, the author included pictures of the weapons and ammunition used in the attack, according to extremism monitoring service SITE.

The manifesto also mentioned a live-stream as well as his objective to kill 'anti-whites', including Jews.

'This manifesto document, which appears to have been created a week ago on October 1, gives yet more indication how much planning and preparation' the gunman put into the attack, Rita Katz, director of SITE, said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel greets members of the Jewish community at a vigil in Berlin on Wednesday evening

People leave candles and flowers at a vigil in Halle this evening after a man and woman were shot dead earlier on Wednesday

Forensic officers were working at the site where one of the victims was shot outside a synagogue on Wednesday

A bus whose destination board reads 'evacuation' is escorted by police past the site of a shooting in Halle on Wednesday

Armed police block access to a street near the scene of a shooting that has left two people dead

Jewish worshippers were sealed inside the synagogue for several hours while police cleared the surrounding area, before finally being allowed out. Pictured, a family celebrates their freedom

Local Jewish leaders said that an attacker had attempted to get into the synagogue but security measures 'withstood the attack' before he began shooting elsewhere

Armed police wearing masks and helmets seal off part of Halle near the scene of one of the shootings on Wednesday

While the attacker appeared to have been targeting the synagogue, Jewish community leaders said that none of the victims of the shooting appeared to be Jewish

Synagogue visitors sit in a bus after a shooting in Halle after police relaxed the cordon enough for them to leave

Shooter posts video on Amazon-owned Twitch Social media firms faced anger and calls to 'step up' last after graphic footage of the anti-Semitic gun rampage in Germany was streamed live on Twitch and watched by thousands of people. The 35-minute video was streamed live on Twitch, an Amazon-owned gaming site, and stayed there for another 30 minutes after the broadcast had finished before it was finally taken down. In that time more than 2,000 people viewed the footage and some of them distributed it further via other social media networks. The 35-minute video was streamed live on Twitch (file photo), an Amazon-owned gaming site, and stayed there for another 30 minutes after the broadcast had finished The shooter had created his Twitch account two months before Wednesday's Yom Kippur violence. Last night there were calls for social media sites to take action to stop their platforms being used for violence. 'Amazon is just as much to blame as Twitch for allowing this stream online,' said Hans-Jakob Schindler of the Counter Extremism Project. 'Online platforms need to step up and stop their services being used and in turn, parent companies need to hold them accountable. 'This tragic incident demonstrates one more time that a self-regulatory approach is not effective enough and sadly highlights the need for stronger regulation of the tech sector.' 'We are shocked and saddened by the tragedy that took place in Germany, and our deepest condolences go out to all those affected,' a Twitch spokesman said. 'Twitch has a zero-tolerance policy against hateful conduct, and any act of violence is taken extremely seriously. 'We worked with urgency to remove this content and will permanently suspend any accounts found to be posting or reposting content of this abhorrent act. 'Once the video was removed, we shared the hash with an industry consortium to help prevent the proliferation of this content. 'We take this extremely seriously and are committed to working with industry peers, law enforcement, and any relevant parties to protect our community.' Advertisement

German newspaper Die Welt reported that the text, which is about 10 pages long and written in English, specifically mentions the plan to attack the synagogue in Halle during Yom Kippur.

The rampage was streamed live for 35 minutes on Twitch, and eventually seen by some 2,200 people, the online platform said.

Police subsequently captured a suspect after a gun battle that left the man injured, though they have refused to say whether the man they captured is the same one seen online.

It is thought that Balliet tried and failed to get into the Halle synagogue where around 80 people were praying, before shooting through the doors, throwing explosives, and then laying bombs outside.

He then gunned down a woman in the street before driving around the corner to a kebab shop where he again opened fire, killing a man and wounding several others.

Video taken outside the shop shows a man wearing tactical gear and a helmet with a camera strapped to it climbing out of a car and firing several shots into the street with what appears to be an improvised shotgun.

He then walks up and down the road in full view of security cameras before fleeing in the direction of Wiedersdorf.

After arriving in that village he shot an electrician in a workshop, then stole a taxi and made his way on to the A9 motorway, skirting around the city of Leipzig, before turning on to the B91 towards Zeitz.

It was there that he was confronted by police and arrested after a brief gun battle, Bild reports.

Chancellor Angela Merkel joined a solidarity vigil at Berlin's main synagogue on Wednesday, and firmly condemned the anti-Semitic rampage.

But Jewish leaders said that words were not enough, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joining calls for German authorities to 'act resolutely against the phenomenon of anti-Semitism'.

The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany ripped into the authorities for failing to provide adequate security on such a key day.

'It is scandalous that the synagogue in Halle is not protected by police on a holiday like Yom Kippur,' said Josef Schuster.

'This negligence has now been bitterly repaid.'

Ronald Lauder, who heads the World Jewish Congress, also stressed: 'We need action not words' as he called for round the clock security for Jewish sites.

'We also need immediately to launch a unified front against neo-Nazi and other extremist groups, which threaten our well-being.

'The fact that, 75 years after the Holocaust, such groups are gaining influence in Germany speaks volumes.'

In a copy of a 35-minute video obtained by AFP the gunman filmed himself launching into a diatribe against women and Jews, before carrying out the attack.

The video's authenticity has been confirmed by the SITE monitoring group but not by police.

Rescued members of the Jewish community wait inside a bus near the scene of a shooting that has left two people dead

Police initially advised residents to shelter in their homes while they scoured the area for possible further attackers

Police officers with an armoured vehicle block a road in Halle, Germany

A helicopter takes off as police secure the area between Wiedersdorf and Landsberg near Halle, eastern Germany

An officer leads a bomb-sniffing dog across the street in Halle, following reports that grenades were thrown by a gunman who targeted a synagogue in the city

A helicopter lands as police secure the area between Wiedersdorf and Landsberg near Halle, eastern Germany. Gunshots were also reported in those two towns, which sit near Halle

Police officers walk on a road in Halle, Germany, as they secure the area following an attack outside a synagogue

Police guard a crime scene near a Synagogue after a shooting in Halle, Germany, which targeted Yom Kippur worshippers

The gunman also published an anti-Semitic 'manifesto' online more than a week ago, according to SITE director Rita Katz, who said the document showed pictures of the weapons and ammunition he used.

In the video, he was seen trying to force open the synagogue door before shooting dead a female passer-by. He then tried unsuccessfully to blast open the gate of the Jewish cemetery with explosives.

The man was later seen shooting at a patron of a kebab shop about 600 metres (yards) away from the synagogue.

Jewish community leader Max Privorotzki, who was in the Halle synagogue, told the Stuttgarter Zeitung of the harrowing minutes as the site came under assault.

'We saw through the camera of our synagogue that a heavily armed perpetrator wearing a steel helmet and rifle was trying to shoot open our door.'

Between 70 and 80 people were in the synagogue then, Privorotzki said.

'We barricaded our doors from inside and waited for the police,' he said, adding that 'in between, we carried on with our service.'

Armed officers help a woman to cross the street, stepping around shell casings which have been circled with spray paint on the floor

Police block the area around the site of a shooting in Halle an der Saale, eastern Germany

Police say they have arrested one person in connection with the attack, but told resident to shelter in place while the manhunt continues (pictured, an ambulance at the scene

Police secure the area after a shooting in the eastern German city of Halle

Among those in the synagogue were 10 Americans, as well as several Israelis, who had turned up in Halle especially to join the small local population in celebrating Yom Kippur.

'We've made it out with our lives, in health and amazing spirits,' wrote Rebecca Blady, a Jewish American community leader, who was in the synagogue.

Yom Kippur - Judaism's holiest day Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in Judaism which is marked with an intensive 25-hour period of fasting and prayer. The holiday began Tuesday night and was due to end late Wednesday. The day typically involves five prayer sessions, with followers encouraged to repent for sins. It is celebrated throughout the Jewish world, even by typically secular members of the faith. Advertisement

The owner of the kebab shop, Rifat Tekin, meanwhile described the gunman as 'calm like a professional'.

'Maybe he has done this many times. Like me making a kebab, he's doing this - like a professional.'

Anti-terrorist prosecutors confirmed that they were taking over the probe given 'the particular importance of the case' which involved 'violent acts that affect the domestic security of the Federal Republic of Germany'.

Wednesday's shootings came three months after the shocking assassination-style murder of local pro-migrant politician Walter Luebcke in the western city of Kassel, allegedly by a known neo-Nazi.

Luebcke's killing has deeply shaken Germany, raising questions about whether it has failed to take seriously a rising threat from right-wing extremists.

Investigators have been probing the extent of suspect Stephan Ernst's neo-Nazi ties and whether he had links to the far-right militant cell National Socialist Underground (NSU).

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer last month warned of the rising danger of the militant far right, calling it 'as big a threat as radical Islamism'.

A police officer stands guard next to a van close to which his colleagues are gathered near the site of the shooting in Halle

A police robot near the scene of a shooting that has left two people dead in Halle, Germany

Police forces walk along the wall to a Jewish cemetery near the scene of a shooting that has left two people dead in Halle

Armed officers were also deployed outside a synagogue in Dresden, around 90 miles from Halle, as a precautionary measure following the attack amid fears of copy-cats

Police officers secure a synagogue in Dresden, Germany, following a shooting 90 miles away in Halle