German-Chicagoans react to Munich shooting
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - The attack in Munich, Germany that left nine people dead and at least 21 injured is hitting home for Germans in Chicago.
At the cultural center in Lincoln Square, about two dozen people gathered for the monthly movie night where they feature German movies with English subtitles.
One of the center’s directors asked those in attendance to pause for a moment of silence before the movie, to honor those killed in Munich.
For Erich Freiberger, the attack hit close to home. His daughter is living and working in Munich. As soon as he heard of the shooting, he texted her to see if she was safe.
"It took a little bit and I got a response and said 'yes we're fine, we're enjoying a Friday evening beer in a beer garden, we're nowhere near there,'" Freiberger said, adding it was a huge relief.
Another man here for the movie lived in Germany for four years. The attack shocked him.
“When I first heard about it on the news, it was scary and it doesn't make any sense, I don't understand why anybody would do that,” said PetkoTzveetko, who lived in Germany from 1990-94.
He wonders how it might affect this year's Oktoberfest in Munich, which draws hundreds of thousands of people for the festival and would be a prime target for terrorists.
Several travel agents told FOX 32 News that travel to Europe is down. Many flights are not full and airline ticket prices are very reasonable, one agent said.
Terror attacks like the one recently in Nice, France and in Paris are blamed for making travelers wary about safety in Europe. It’s also making people think about their safety here at home.
“I'm sure that's on every American's mind; when is this going to end and is it gonna start becoming more prevalent in the United States,” Freiberger said.