At least five dead in shooting in northern Germany – media

At least five people have been killed in a shooting in the northern German city of Stade, several media outlets have reported, citing police. Four women and one man are among the victims, according to a local media outlet.

Large police forces have been deployed to the city center, while law enforcement officials have urged people on social media to avoid the area. At least one suspect has reportedly been detained.

“Shots were fired near a youth center in the city center,” a police official told Germany’s dpa news agency. According to Der Spiegel, two suspects, including an alleged gunman, have been arrested.

Several people have been injured in the incident, according to police.

Police are treating the incident as a homicide at a residential facility providing temporary supervised accommodation for expectant mothers and young women with children, dpa reported, citing a police spokeswoman. According to law enforcement officials, the shots were fired inside the facility.

Loud screams were heard from the facility shortly before the shooting, German magazine Focus reported, citing a witness. The man, who lives nearby, told the outlet he saw a woman and a young man trying to flee the scene by car. According to the witness, police opened fire after the pair ignored officers’ orders to stop.

“Two suspected perpetrators have been arrested,” the spokeswoman said, adding that there is no longer any danger to the public.

The suspects’ motives remain unclear. Their identities have not been disclosed.