GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the “poison” of racism today after at least nine people were killed in a suspected far-right terror attack in the western town on Hanau late on Wednesday.

Police confirmed that the suspect, identified by locals as Tobias R, and his mother had been found dead in his flat overnight.

German newspaper Bild reported that the attacker had left a letter and a video claiming responsibility and expressing far-right views.

Most of the victims, who were shot dead in attacks on two separate shisha lounges, were said to be Kurdish. Police are working to identify the victims.

Ms Merkel said: “Racism is a poison, hate is a poison, and this poison exists in our society.

“Everything will be done to investigate the circumstances of these terrible murders.

“Federal prosecutors have taken over the investigation and there are indications of a right-wing extremist background,” a government spokesman said.

Muslim association KRM called for more to be done in the fight against right-wing extremism in Germany, saying that it had been calling for “a clear stand against Islamophobia” for months.