Six people are dead and several others wounded after a horrifying mass shooting erupted Monday at a mother-and-child welfare center in northern Germany, sending police and rescue crews rushing into a chaotic scene just west of Hamburg.
The bloodshed unfolded in the city of Stade, where a gunman allegedly opened fire inside a youth welfare facility that houses children, as well as expectant and new mothers.
Authorities said five victims were found dead inside the center, including four women and one man. A sixth victim, another man, later died from his injuries at a nearby hospital.
The suspected shooter was arrested after allegedly trying to flee the scene in a car. Police said two other people were also being investigated for possible involvement, though officials have not released full details about their suspected roles.
According to German outlet Bild, an eyewitness described seeing a woman and a young man allegedly attempt to drive away as a police officer shouted for them to stop. As the car pulled off, several officers reportedly opened fire, with witnesses claiming at least 10 to 15 shots were fired at the vehicle.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
The shooting sparked a massive emergency response, with police, paramedics and forensic investigators swarming the area. Several people were wounded, some seriously, according to reports, though officials have not yet released a full number of injured victims.
Children at a nearby daycare were kept inside during the frightening ordeal, police said. None of those children were hurt.
Authorities later said there were no additional suspects on the run, but police warned the public not to spread unverified claims as rumors began circulating online.
“The accounts currently circulating do not correspond to the facts as confirmed by the police,” authorities said, according to Deutsche Welle. Police warned that false information could create panic and interfere with the investigation.
City Councillor Carsten Brokelmann praised police for responding during what he called a chaotic situation.
“I thank the police officers for their service in this chaotic situation,” Brokelmann said Monday, adding that his “deepest condolences go to the victims of this horrific act and their families.”
The massacre has stunned Germany, where gun laws are far more restrictive than in the United States and mass shootings are relatively rare. Still, the country has seen several deadly attacks in recent years, including the 2023 Hamburg Kingdom Hall shooting, where a former Jehovah’s Witness killed multiple people before taking his own life.
For now, the community of Stade is left reeling as investigators work to determine what led to one of Germany’s deadliest shootings in years — inside a place meant to shelter mothers and children.
