Emergency services and police officers work at the scene after gunfire occurred at a youth support facility in Stade, Germany, on Monday. Photo by Fabian Hoefig/EPA
Police in Northern Germany said a shooting at a youth welfare facility left six people dead Monday.
Five people died at the scene of the shooting in Stade, and a sixth died after being transported to a hospital. Stade is about 27 miles west of Hamburg.
All of those killed were adults, CNN reported.
There were also an unspecified number of injuries in the shooting in Stade, the BBC reported. Police didn’t provide details on the ages of those killed or injured.
Authorities said they arrested three people, including the suspected shooter.
Police said there was no ongoing threat, but advised the public to steer clear of the area.
Laurits Penske, a police representative, said that though the shooter’s motive wasn’t clear, investigators don’t believe it was an act of terror, The New York Times reported.
Local councillor Carsten Brokelmann said there was a daycare center and elementary school nearby where the shooting took place.
“We are relieved that our staff and the children in the daycare center and elementary school are all safe and well, and I would like to thank the police officers for their service in this chaotic situation,” he said.
“At the same time, our deepest sympathies go out to the victims of this terrible act and their families.”
The Times said mass shootings in Germany are rare due to strict gun ownership laws. Authorities said it’s unclear how the suspected shooter obtained the gun they used.
