ABU DHABI // No Emiratis were injured after a gunman opened fire outside a popular shopping mall in Munich on Friday, the UAE Consulate General in the Bavarian capital confirmed.
“UAE Ambassador to Berlin Ali Abdullah Al Ahmed affirmed today that all Emirati citizens in Germany are fine and that the citizens who were stranded following the halt of the mass-transit system in Munich on Friday have all been reached and taken to their places of residence,” Wam, the state news agency, reported on Saturday.
As police were responding to the shooting, the UAE Embassy in Berlin issued a warning through social media to UAE citizens visiting or living in Munich late on Friday afternoon. The embassy advised citizens to stay away from the Olympia Shopping Centre as police hunted the gunman. Citizens were also urged to stay indoors.
“Due to the regretful events in Munich, it advises all UAE nationals to be cautious and not to leave their residences unless necessary,” the UAE Consulate General in Munich said. “As a precautionary procedure, the UAE Consulate General calls on all Emiratis in Germany to stay indoors wherever they are, despite that the warning issued by the police is confined to Munich only.”
The Consulate General also urged UAE citizens to fully cooperate with the German security authorities, follow the required instructions, register with the Twajudi service, which aims to help Emiratis overseas in emergency situations, as well as communicate with the UAE Consulate General if there is an emergency.
Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, praised the UAE Ambassador in Germany and the Consul in Munich for ensuring the protection of Emiratis. He stressed the importance of ensuring all citizens travelling abroad are registered with their Twajudi service.
Calling the shooting a “heinous terrorist crime,” the UAE strongly condemned the attack, which left nine people dead and 27 injured. The presumed shooter is an 18-year-old German of Iranian descent who lived in Munich, according to the city’s police. He was found dead, with a gunshot wound to the head, at about 8.30pm near the Olympic Park on Friday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation affirmed its solidarity with Germany.
“This heinous terrorist crime makes it imperative for everyone to work decisively and without hesitation to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the ministry said.
It also offered sincere condolences to the government and people of Germany and the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the wounded.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5