Five shot dead in Germany, two suspects detained

German police officers
German police say they're conducting a major operation following a shooting in Stade. -AP

Five people ‌have been shot and killed in a town in northern ‌Germany and police said they have detained ‌two individuals, including the suspected shooter.

The motive for the incident in Stade, close to the port city of Hamburg, was not ‌immediately clear, ‌according ⁠to a police spokesperson.

The role of the ​second individual in custody is currently unclear, a second police spokesperson told Reuters, adding that no other suspects were at large.

It is unclear ⁠how many people ‌have ​been injured, he said, adding that the dead ​were all ‌adults.

Local media reported that the incident had ​taken place near a youth centre in central Stade, a town of just ​below ​50,000 people to ​the west of Hamburg. ‌The spokesperson denied that, but declined to give further details.

Just after the incident took place, police had warned residents to steer clear ​of the area.