BERLIN — Five people were killed in a shooting at a youth welfare facility in the northern German town of Stade on Monday, and a male suspect was detained, police said, as authorities launched an investigation into the attack.
Police said the motive remained unclear and gave no immediate details on the identities of those killed. The shooting occurred at a youth facility on Dankersstrasse in Stade, about 40 km (25 miles) west of Hamburg, prompting a major emergency response.
Authorities said several other people were injured but did not immediately specify how many. Police said there was no ongoing danger to the public following the arrest of the suspected gunman. Some initial reports referred to multiple suspects, but officials had not confirmed that information at the time of publication.
Police urged residents to avoid the area while emergency services and investigators secured the scene. Officers said they were working to establish the sequence of events and determine the motive behind the shooting.
German media reported the shooting took place at a youth welfare institution in central Stade, though authorities had not released further details about the victims or their connection to the facility.
Mass shootings are relatively rare in Germany, which has comparatively strict firearms laws. Authorities said the investigation remained in its early stages, with additional information expected as officials continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
