A mass shooting in Stade, northern Germany, has left at least five people dead, including four women and one man, with a sixth adult dying in hospital from wounds sustained in the attack.
Police have detained at least one suspect and are investigating the motives behind the shooting, which occurred at a youth centre on Dankersstraße. The second suspect is also in custody, but the roles of both individuals in the shooting remain unclear.
A witness described the scene, stating that police had fired at a car from a distance, shooting out three of its tyres. The witness also reported seeing the two occupants being arrested.
A major police operation is underway in the city, with residents advised to avoid the area and follow the instructions of emergency personnel. The Lüneburg Police Directorate has issued a statement urging people to steer clear of the area.
Stade is a city of around 50,000 inhabitants, located in the lower regions of the River Elbe. The incident has sparked a significant response from authorities, with experts noting that mass shootings are relatively rare occurrences in Germany.
In 2023, a gunman shot six people in Hamburg before killing himself at a Jehovah's Witness hall. A separate incident in Munich saw an 18-year-old German-Iranian kill at least nine people after becoming obsessed with mass killings.
The investigation into the Stade shooting is ongoing, with police working to determine the motives behind the attack and the roles of those involved.
