Five dead in mass shooting near German youth centre: Police order people to stay away

Five people are dead following a mass shooting at a youth welfare facility in Germany. 

Shots were fired in the Dankersstrasse area of ​​Stade in Lower Saxony. The shooting took place near Stade police station. 

German cops have arrested two suspects, having earlier said they had arrested a male suspect. They added that the motive for the shooting remains unclear. 

Police have asked people in the local area to avoid the scene of the attack ‘for [their] own safety.’ 

Local media reported that two police helicopters are circling over the city centre. 

Police said that all the victims were adults, and that there are not suspects still at large. 

In its latest update via their WhatsApp channel, local police said: ‘According to the current state of the investigation, a homicide occurred at a youth care facility on Dankersstraße, resulting in multiple victims. 

‘Five people were fatally injured, and others sustained injuries. As part of the immediate search and police operation, two suspected perpetrators, including the alleged shooter, were arrested. 

Five people have died in a mass shooting in Dankersstrasse area of ​​Stade in Lower Saxony

A large number of crime scene investigators were spotted at the site of the attack

‘The investigation into the background and the exact sequence of events is ongoing.’

A large number of crime scene investigators were spotted at the site of the attack.  

It is not known how many people were injured in the attack, nor is the role of the second detainee. 

Stade has a population of around 50,000 people, and is located west of Hamburg. 

This is a breaking news story. More to follow