Germany shooting latest: Death toll rises to six after attack on youth centre in Stade

Six people have been killed in a shooting at a youth centre in the town of Stade in northern Germany, police have said.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including the suspected shooter, police told The Independent. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

Police said they are not looking for anyone else and believe there was no further danger to the public in Stade, a city of 50,000 people located around 50km west of Hamburg.

In a post on social media, the Lüneburg Police Department said: “A police operation is currently taking place in Stade. Avoid the area widely!”

Stade Police added that a “major police operation” is currently underway on Dankersstraße the city.

They also urged the public not to share unverified reports that are “currently circulating” on social media about the police operation.

“These circulating accounts do not reflect the facts as currently confirmed by the police,” they said.

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Key Points

• Two detained following fatal shooting in Germany
• Death toll rises to six
• All five victims are adults, police say
• Shooting took place at youth centre, say police
• Mapped: Suspect held after shooting in Stade, Germany
• Public urged to leave scene of crime immediately

Shooting was 'extremely cold-blooded act of violence' but not politically motivated, minister says

18:39 , Nicole Wootton-Cane

Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens is now addressing the media in Stade.

She described the shooting as an “extremely cold-blooded act of violence” but said it is not believed to be politically motivated or an extremist act, according to the Hamburger Morgenpost.

"My thoughts are with the families, the victims, and everyone who had to cope with this. I am certain that this horrific act will continue to affect Stade for a long time,” she said.

She added police and authorities are doing “everything possible” to investigate the incident.

Third suspect under investigation, reports say

18:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane

A third suspect is under investigation following a fatal shooting in Stade, police have said.

Officers previously said they had detained two people, including the suspected shooter.

Interior minister to give press conference in one hour

17:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane

Stade’s interior minister is expected to give a press conference on the fatal shooting in the town this evening.

Daniela Behrens will speak to the press at 6:30 BST, which is 7:30pm local time.

In pictures: Forensic teams scour scene of shooting in Stade

17:10 , Nicole Wootton-Cane

Sixth victim died in hospital after sustaining wounds, police say

16:47 , Nicole Wootton-Cane

Six people have died following a shooting in the German town of Stade.

German media reports initially said four women and one man were dead, but police later said a sixth adult ‌had died in hospital of wounds.

Death toll rises to six

16:26 , Nicole Wootton-Cane

Police have said the death toll after a shooting in Stade has risen to six.

Details of the identities of victims have yet to be confirmed.

Police 'cannot rule out possibility' children among injured

16:25 , Nicole Wootton-Cane

Police have said they are unable to rule out the possibility children could be among those injured in the attack, according to German media.

Local spokesperson Matthias Bekermann told media the number of people injured is within the single digits, but did not give details of ages or an exact number.

Shooter and accomplice fled - but were arrested after short police chase

16:05 , Alex Croft

Police spokesman Matthias Bekermann has offered a little more clarity on what happened at the scene of the shooting.

Here is a brief breakdown of what he said, according to FOCUS Online.

• Shots were first fired at the facility at around 12:10pm local time (11:10am BST)
• Police patrol cars were immediately dispatched to the scene
• The shooter was seen there, before they fled, leading to a brief police chase
• The suspect and an accomplice were apprehended and soon afterwards arrested. Both now remain in custody.
• The role of the accomplice is still under investigation, and police have not confirmed their gender.

Facility provided accommodation to young mothers and children

16:04 , Nicole Wootton-Cane

The facility where the shooting took place provides accommodation to young mothers and their children, according to local news reports.

Victims include four women and one man - report

15:50 , Alex Croft

We can now bring you more details about the victims, after policve spokesman Matthias Bekermann has been speaking to press on the scene.

Four of the victims died instantly after being shot, while the fifth died after succumbing to their injuries, despite medical treatment.

The Hamburger Morgenpost is reporting that the dead include four women and one man.

Man and woman try to flee scene in Stade before arrest

15:38 , Alex Croft

An eyewitness saw a man and a woman trying to flee the scene by car before being intercepted by police, the news site FOCUS online reported.

A police spokesperson subsequently confirmed this at the scene, the outlet said.

Watch: Emergency services respond after five killed

15:10 , Alex Croft

Stade shooting the latest of several high-profile incidents in recent years

14:52 , Alex Croft

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Germany, especially when compared to the United States.

But the country, where gun laws permit the civilian ownership of handguns and certain semi-automatic rifles, has in recent years seen a spate of high-profile cases.

In 2023, a gunman in Hamburg shot dead six people before killing himself at a Jehovah's Witness worship hall.

In 2016, an 18-year-old German-Iranian man who was obsessed with mass killings killed at least nine people in Munich.

More images from Stade, northern Germany

14:38 , Alex Croft

Police set up media area

14:32 , Alex Croft

Police now say they have set up a media area near the incident, where statements will be issued to reporters.

The area is at the corner of Dankerstrasse and Schulweg, near to where the shooting took place.

Police warn public of fake claims circulating on social media

14:18 , Alex Croft

Police have urged the public not to share unverified reports regarding the police operation following the Stade shooting.

“Unconfirmed information regarding the police operation on Dankersstraße is currently circulating in various WhatsApp groups and on social media,” the force said in a statement.

“These circulating accounts do not reflect the facts as currently confirmed by the police.

“Please do not share unverified reports, voice messages, or rumors. Doing so can cause uncertainty and hinder police operations.”

Stade Police advised users to only take information from their official WhatsApp channels.

First images from the scene in Stade

14:01 , Alex Croft

All five victims are adults, police say

13:42 , Harriette Boucher

Five adults were killed in the shooting in Stade, which took place at a youth centre, police said.

It is ​unclear how ‌many ⁠people have ⁠been injured.

Two detained following fatal shooting in Germany

13:39 , Harriette Boucher

Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including the suspected shooter.

Police confirmed to The Independent that the shooting took place took place at a youth centre, but no children are among those killed.

They said they were not looking for anyone else and believed there was no further danger to the public.

Shooting took place at youth centre - report

13:22 , Harriette Boucher

Local media has reported that the incident had taken place in a youth centre in central Stade.

Some reports referred to multiple suspects, but police did not immediately confirm this.

Public urged to leave scene of crime immediately

13:20 , Harriette Boucher

German police have told members of the public to “leave the area” while a “major police operation” takes place.

In a post to a WhatsApp group, it said: “A major police operation is currently underway on Dankersstraße in Stade.

“We ask you to leave the area and give it a wide berth for your own safety.

“Follow the instructions of the emergency personnel on site.

“Please share only official information and do not spread rumour.”

Police urge people to avoid area as major operation underway

13:10 , Harriette Boucher

Mapped: Suspect held after shooting in Stade, Germany

13:09 , Harriette Boucher

Suspect arrested following shooting - report

13:08 , Harriette Boucher

German media has reported that a male suspect was arrested following a shooting that killed five people in the town of Stade.

Dpa news agency cited police in its reports.

The motive of the attack is still unclear.

Five killed in shooting in Germany

13:01 , Daniel Keane

Five people have been shot dead in an attack in northern Germany, police have said.

A German police spokesperson said the shooting took place in the town of Stade on Tuesday, with the motive for the attack still unclear.