Six killed in shooting at youth welfare facility in northern Germany
Updated . First published at
Six people have been killed in a shooting at a youth welfare facility in the northern German town of Stade, police say.
Five people – four women and one man – died at the scene of the shooting in Stade, police said. A sixth, also an adult, died later at a hospital.
Emergency responders and forensic investigators in Stade, Germany. Fabian Höfig/NEWS5/dpa via AP
Police said several people were wounded, some of them seriously, German news agency dpa reported, but they did not give a specific figure or information on the victims’ identity.
Police said the shooting took place in the facility on Dankersstrasse, a street south of the town centre.
The facility includes temporary accommodation for pregnant women or young mothers with children.
There was no immediate word on a possible motive and police said there was no danger to the public.
Two suspects were arrested, one of whom is believed to have fired the shots.
A main suspect was arrested, while another two people were subject to “police measures” on suspicion of involvement, police said in a statement. They didn’t elaborate.
Forensic investigators on a street in Stade, Germany. Ulrich Perrey/dpa/dpa via AP
Video footage after the shooting showed a large police presence, along with other emergency service personnel and several ambulances on a residential street.
Germany’s gun laws are more restrictive than those in the US, and mass shootings are rare but not unheard-of.
Vitali Mertens, who lives across the street from the scene, said he heard gunshots and “the whole area was cordoned off right away.”
Stade has about 50,000 inhabitants and is located about 40 kilometres from Hamburg.
More to come.
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