President Barack Obama says Wednesday’s shooting outside the Frankfurt, Germany airport, in which two U.S. Air Force personnel were killed and two others wounded, was a tragedy. The president interrupted a regular press briefing to make a short statement.
President Obama made an unscheduled appearance at press secretary Jay Carney’s daily session with reporters to express his dismay at the violence in Frankfurt.
“I am saddened and I am outraged by this attack that took the lives of two Americans and wounded two others," said President Obama.
The president said the United States and Germany will aggressively investigate the shootings.
“I want everybody to understand that we will spare no effort in learning how this outrageous act took place and in working with German authorities to ensure that all of the perpetrators are brought to justice," said Obama.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the shootings a “terrible event,” and promised that her country will do everything in its power to investigate the crime.
The U.S. Air Force in Britain says the two airmen killed and the two wounded were based at Lakenheath Airfield in eastern England.
The gunman fired at the airmen on a bus outside the Frankfurt airport. The bus driver and a passenger were also killed, and two other civilians wounded.
The gunman was taken into custody shortly after the shootings. Kosovo’s interior minister told the Associated Press that German police have identified the man as being from Kosovo.
Mr. Obama said the American people are united in expressing gratitude for the service of those lost in Frankfurt.
Obama Saddened, Outraged by Killings of US Airmen
- By Kent Klein
