Five adults were shot dead in Stade, south-west of Hamburg, in what German police are treating as a serious violent incident.
Two people have been arrested in connection with the killings.
This is one of the more serious multiple shooting incidents in northern Germany in recent years.
Local media report that the victims were found at or near the scene following reports of gunfire near a youth facility in the city centre.
A large-scale police operation was launched immediately, with significant resources deployed to secure the area and begin the investigation.
Two suspects were detained shortly afterwards.
Authorities have not yet released details on the identities or backgrounds of the victims, nor have they publicly confirmed a motive.
According to the investigators’ initial findings, there is no connection to so-called clan crime.
It cannot be ruled out that the number of fatalities will rise. Several people were also injured in the shooting.
Investigations are focusing on possible links to organised crime, personal disputes, or other factors.
An eyewitness described seeing a man and a woman attempting to flee the scene after the incident.
Police tried to stop their car, but it drove on.
Officers then opened fire, discharging between 10 and 15 shots.
The witness reported seeing a person being carried on a stretcher and resuscitated on the street, as reported by German RTL.
The incident has shocked residents of Stade, a Hanseatic town of around 50,000 people better known for its historic centre and relatively low crime rate.
Local authorities have stepped up visible policing as a precaution while forensic work and interviews continue.
Further details are expected as the investigation progresses, including any potential connections between the victims and the arrested suspects.
