Sixth person dies after shooting at youth welfare centre in Germany

Sixth person dies after shooting at youth welfare centre in Germany

Six adults were killed during a shooting on Monday, at a youth welfare facility in the northern German town of Stade. Police reported that five people, including four women and one man, died at the scene, while a sixth victim succumbed to injuries in a hospital.

The attack took place at a facility located on Dankersstrasse, a residential street south of the town center. The site provides temporary accommodation and support for pregnant women, young mothers, and children.

Authorities have arrested an alleged main perpetrator believed to have fired the shots. Two additional people are in custody and subject to police measures as investigators determine their level of involvement. Footage published by Bild appeared to show police stopping a car believed to be carrying suspects at a roadblock, where heavily armed officers ordered the occupants out and forced two people to the ground.

Several other people were wounded, some seriously, though police have not confirmed the exact number of injured persons.

A witness, Vitali Mertens, who lives across the street, told The Associated Press that he heard gunshots and the area was immediately cordoned off. Mertens added that police sent him away from the scene.

The violence occurred near a primary school and a daycare facility. Local councillor Carsten Brokelmann stated that staff and children at both locations were safe. A city spokesperson confirmed children were inside the daycare center at the time of the shooting and have since been collected by their parents.

"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,"

Carsten Brokelmann, Local Councillor, via Yahoo

Regarding a possible motive, a police spokesperson in Lüneburg told the tabloid Bild that the incident lies within the environment of the youth care facility and is not related to a political motive or femicide. Der Spiegel reported that investigators are examining whether the attack was linked to personal disputes connected with the facility.

Stade, a historical town of about 50,000 people in Lower Saxony, is located approximately 25 to 28 miles west of Hamburg. While mass shootings are rare in Germany, previous high-profile incidents include a 2016 shooting in Munich where an 18-year-old killed at least nine people, and a 2023 attack at a Jehovah's Witness worship hall in Hamburg that left six dead.

German gun laws require licenses and proof of reliability, training, and need. According to government data, just over 3 million guns are owned by some 929,000 people in a country of 83 million.

The Lüneburg Police Directorate warned the public against spreading unverified information on social media and WhatsApp groups, stating such reports do not reflect the facts as currently confirmed by the police and could hinder the investigation.

Police stated there is no ongoing danger to the public. A press conference was scheduled for 7.30pm local time on Monday to release further information.