Horror as six killed in shooting at German welfare facility for young mothers

One suspect has been arrested as officers continue to investigate

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A gunman has opened fire at a welfare facility understood to house mothers and their children in northern Germany, leaving six adults dead and several others injured.

Police confirmed the attack unfolded at a residential centre in the city of Stade, that provides accommodation for pregnant women and young mothers, with officers confirming that five victims, four women and a man, died at the scene. A sixth adult later succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

Emergency services were deployed to the building on Dankersstrasse, south of the town centre, as detectives worked to establish a motive. Police said a main suspect had been detained, with two other individuals subject to further inquiries, the Daily Star reports.

A huge police presence was spotted in video footage uploaded to social media along with other emergency service personnel and several ambulances on a residential street.

“The whole area was cordoned off right away,” said Vitali Mertens, who lives across the street from the scene, and heard gunshots. Roughly 50,000 people live in the city of Stade, which is located about 25 miles from Hamburg.

In a statement, the police force 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. The investigation into the background and the exact sequence of events is ongoing.”

Police also warned of misinformation being shared on social media. They added: “The circulating accounts do not correspond to the current state of affairs confirmed by the police. Please do not forward unverified reports, voice messages or rumours. This can cause uncertainty and hinder police action.”

Germany’s gun laws are more restrictive than those in the United States, and mass shootings are rare but not unheard of.

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