Six people have been killed following a shooting at a shelter for mothers and children in the northern German town of Stade, with police arresting three suspects, including the alleged gunman.
The deadly attack occurred on Monday near the port city of Hamburg. Authorities confirmed that all the victims were adults, with one of the injured later dying in hospital, raising the death toll from five to six. Police said investigations are ongoing and that there is no further threat to the public.
The victims were all adults, although officials have not released their identities or provided further details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Three people were taken into custody, including the suspected shooter. Footage published by German media showed heavily armed police intercepting a car with a flat tyre before detaining two occupants.
Authorities described the incident as a homicide involving multiple victims and launched a full-scale investigation. No motive has been established, but local media reports suggested investigators believe the shooting was likely linked to a personal dispute rather than political or extremist motives.
Police initially urged residents to avoid the area while emergency operations were underway but later confirmed that there was no ongoing threat to the general public.
The area around the shelter was sealed off as forensic experts and investigators examined the scene.
Mass shootings remain relatively rare in Germany. The country has witnessed a handful of high-profile gun attacks in recent years, including a 2023 shooting at a Jehovah’s Witness hall in Hamburg that claimed six lives.
