The incident took place in the northern German city of Stade
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A gunman opened fire at a youth center in Stade, a small town west of Hamburg, Germany
- Police have detained a male suspect but have not confirmed reports of multiple attackers or a motive
- Authorities urged residents to avoid the area as a major operation unfolded
At least five people have died after a gunman opened fire at a youth center in the northern German city of Stade, police confirmed, per Reuters.
The outlet cites local media reports that the tragedy took place at a youth center in central Stade, a town of fewer than 50,000 residents to the west of Hamburg.
Credit: Getty
A male suspect has been detained, and the motive for the attack is currently unclear. While there were some reports of multiple suspects, police have not confirmed this, Reuters notes.
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According to DW.com, Germany's public international broadcaster, Stade police said in a statement shared on WhatsApp that a "major operation" was underway on Dankersstraße [a major street in Stade], calling on citizens to “steer clear of the area” and follow the instructions of the emergency services on the scene.
PEOPLE has reached out to German police but did not immediately receive a response.
This is a breaking news story with further updates to follow.
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