A shooting incident on Monday in the northern German city of Stade has left six people dead, with several others injured, some of them in serious condition, according to German media reports. The death toll may rise further as the number of injured remains unclear.
The shooting took place in downtown Stade, in the state of Lower Saxony, at a youth welfare facility that provides temporary accommodation for pregnant women and young mothers with their children. Police said shots were fired inside the building, and all the victims were adults.
Among the deceased, four are women, and one is a man, with a sixth victim later succumbing to injuries in hospital. A police spokesperson confirmed that two suspects have been arrested, including a male principal offender and a female companion. A third person is also under investigation to determine their possible role in the attack.
Witnesses reported seeing the two suspects attempting to flee by car, with police pursuing the vehicle and reportedly opening fire to stop them. Amateur video footage showed a Mercedes passenger car with a blown-out back tyre stopped at a police roadblock, with officers arresting the occupants.
Police have stated that there is currently no ongoing threat to the public . Investigators believe the incident is likely a "family tragedy" rather than a politically motivated attack or act of terrorism. A police spokesman said that "it is not a case of femicide, nor does it involve a political background or anything of that nature.
Rather, it is an extended family tragedy". The motive, however, remains under investigation. The incident prompted a major police operation, with large numbers of emergency personnel deployed to the scene. Police helicopters circled overhead, and the city centre was shut down.
The shooting occurred near a day-care centre and a primary school, but no children were hurt. Stade has a population of approximately 50,000 and is located about 40 kilometres west of Hamburg. Germany has some of Europe's strictest gun laws, requiring anyone under 25 to pass a psychiatric exam before applying for a gun licence. Mass shootings remain relatively rare in the country.