Horror shooting in major city as 6 people killed with police swarming scene

Three people have been arrested, including a suspected gunman, after multiple people were killed in a shooting in Stade, Germany, on Monday. A major police operation was launched in the Lower Saxony town after officers responded to reports of multiple shots being fired in the Dankersstraße area. Five people – four women and one man – died at the scene, police said, and a sixth, also an adult, died later at a hospital.

Police have described the incident as a "homicide in a youth welfare facility", while German newspaper WELT, citing news agency dpa, reports that all of the victims were adults. Officers earlier described the incident as a "dynamic" situation and urged members of the public to stay away from the area. The motive for the attack remains unclear and investigations into the circumstances are continuing. A main suspect was arrested, while another two people were subject to what were described as “police measures” on suspicion of involvement, police said in a statement.

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A shooting at a youth welfare facility in northern Germany on Monday left six people dead. The suspected shooter was arrested.

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. All six were employees of the youth center or its affiliates, police said.

“The police are investigating the motive and the exact course of events under high pressure,” Daniela Behrens, interior minister for the Lower Saxony region, told a news conference, adding that it was an extremely violent crime in cold blood. 

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 center. The facility includes temporary accommodation for pregnant women or young mothers with children.

A main suspect was arrested, while another two people were subject to what were described as “police measures” on suspicion of involvement, police said in a statement. 

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Five people – four women and one man – died at the scene, police said, and a sixth, also an adult, died later at a hospital.

Shots were fired just after midday local time, police said, followed by a brief car chase before officers stopped the suspect and a second person who accompanied him.

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Police have now confirmed that four women and one man were killed in the shooting.

Luneburg Police Directorate said in an update: "A police operation is currently underway on Dankersstraße in Stade. Shots have been fired at a youth care facility there. Several people have been killed or seriously injured.

"The death toll is currently five. Police have arrested two people, including the suspected perpetrator. The area is cordoned off, and a large police presence is on site. There is no danger to the public. We ask that you keep the area clear for emergency personnel. Further information will be provided regularly as the situation develops.

"A media contact point has been set up at the corner of Dankersstraße and Schulweg. Media representatives can contact press officer Mathias Bekermann there. Ongoing situation updates will also be published via the WhatsApp channel of the Stade police inspectorate."

Vitali Mertens, who lives across the street from the scene, told the Associated Press that he heard gunshots and “the whole area was cordoned off right away.” He added that “the police sent me away.”

The shooting happened at a youth welfare facility on Dankersstrasse, a street south of Stade's centre, Police said. That facility includes temporary accommodation for pregnant women or young mothers with children.

A police spokesperson told German news agency dpa that some of those caught up in the shooting were "seriously" injured, NTV and HAZ reports.

Officers have been pictured speaking to people near the scene closed to where the five people were killed. 

Police have warned that unconfirmed information and rumours about the shooting are being shared on WhatsApp groups and social media.

In an update, officers said the claims circulating "do not correspond to the facts currently confirmed by police" and urged people not to share unverified reports or voice messages, warning they could cause unnecessary concern and hinder the emergency response.

Police urged the public to rely on official updates from Stade Police.

A member of a crisis intervention team has been photographed at the scene of the fatal shooting in Stade.

Crisis intervention teams are typically deployed after major incidents to provide immediate psychological and emotional support to victims, witnesses, relatives and emergency responders.

They can also help people process traumatic events in the hours immediately after an incident and direct them to longer-term support if needed.

An eyewitness told German news outlet Focus Online that a woman and a young man allegedly tried to flee the scene in a car following the shooting.

The witness claimed a police officer shouted: "Stop, stay put!" before the vehicle continued.

According to the account, several officers then opened fire, with the witness estimating that between 10 and 15 shots were fired.

The claims have not been confirmed by police.

Forensic investigators have now been deployed to the scene in Stade as the investigation into the fatal shooting gathers pace.

Images from the scene show forensic officers working alongside police inside the cordoned-off area on Dankersstraße, where five people were killed.

Police have confirmed that all five people killed in the shooting were adults, according to German newspaper WELT, citing German news agency dpa.

The publication also reported that several people were injured in the attack, although authorities have not yet released an exact number.

Police said two people have been arrested, including the suspected shooter.

Police have described the incident as a "homicide in a youth welfare facility", citing initial findings.

The facility reportedly houses mother-and-child residential groups.

The shooting is reported to have happened near a youth welfare facility in Stade.

German newspaper BILD reported the crime scene is in the immediate vicinity of the facility, while earlier reports from RTL, citing police sources, said the shooting took place at a youth centre.

It is not yet known whether any of the victims were children or young people.

Emergency services have descended at Dankersstraße in Stade, where police have cordoned off the area as officers continue responding to the shooting.

Another photo from the scene has come in of police and rescuers working at the scene. 

Two helicopters are circling over Stade centre as the major police operation continues, according to German newspaper BILD.

Two people have been arrested following the fatal shooting in Stade, with one reported to be the suspected gunman.

The Express has contacted local force Polizeiinspektion Stade for more details.

German media reports differ on the exact location of the shooting.

Earlier, German broadcaster RTL, citing police sources, reported the shooting took place at a youth facility. However, German newspaper BILD has since reported that the crime scene is in the immediate vicinity of a youth centre.

Police have not yet officially confirmed whether the shooting happened inside or near the youth centre.

The incident is reported to have taken place in the  Dankersstraße area of Stade.

Stade is a town in Lower Saxony in northern Germany, located around 30 miles west of Hamburg.

It has about 50,000 inhabitants and is located west of Hamburg.

Police said Five people have been killed in a shooting in the northern German town of Stade.

German news agency dpa, citing police, reported that a suspect had been arrested.

Officers said they were carrying out a major operation in an area outside the town centre.

The motive behind the fatal shooting in Stade has not yet been established.

German news outlets t-online and BILD reported that the reasons for the attack remain unclear as police continue their investigation.

The Lüneburg Police Directorate has urged people to stay away from the scene as the operation in Stade continues.

"+++ATTENTION – Police operation in Dankersstraße in Stade+++ A police operation is currently taking place in Stade. Avoid the area widely!"

Police added that operational updates would be shared via the Stade Police WhatsApp channel.

+++ACHTUNG \u2013 Polizeieinsatz in der Dankersstra\u00dfe in Stade+++
Derzeit kommt es in Stade zu einer polizeilichen Einsatzlage. Meidet den Bereich weitr\u00e4umig!
Einsatzbegleitende Informationen erhaltet ihr auf dem WhatsApp-Kanal der Polizei Stade unter:https://t.co/LeoOTiCZOz pic.twitter.com/12fvSVxH8I

According to German newspaper WELT, Police confirmed that one man has been arrested following the fatal shooting in Stade.

A spokesperson reportedly declined to provide any further details about the arrest.

Police have urged members of the public to stay away from the area as a major operation continues in Stade.

In a message shared via the force's WhatsApp channel, officers said: "For your own safety, leave and avoid the area."

Welcome to our live blog covering the major police operation underway in Stade, Germany, following a deadly shooting.

We'll bring you the latest verified developments, official statements and updates as they emerge.

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