Shooting rampage in Munich: Multiple deaths & attacks reported, gunmen at large
Multiple deaths are reported in a shooting at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich, Germany. Police confirmed that shots have been fired in the mall but gave no information on casualties.
Six people died in the shooting and many more were injured in the incident, German broadcaster BR reported, citing its own correspondent at the scene.
There are conflicting reports on casualties. According to the local media outlet Muencher Abendzeitung, up to 15 people have been killed in the center, while German NTV channel puts the death toll at 10.
Police say it appears they are dealing with a "shooting rampage."
There are reports of further shooting at Karlsplatz square in central Munich, but this has not been confirmed by police. Taxi drivers have been advised to avoid the Karlsplatz area.
Another shooting reportedly occurred at Isartor square, close to the city center, according to some Twitter posts.
Police are aware of the reports about other shootings in the city, they said in a Twitter post, adding that the situation is still unclear and urging people to avoid public places and not to travel by subway or train.
Police believe there are "several" shooters, Die Welt reports.
There are at least three shooters in the Munich incident, the Bavarian interior minister said, as reported by Bild.
Shots can be heard in a video posted by a witness on Twitter.
URGENT VIDEO: #Shooting reportedly caught on camera – NOTE: Not verified yet https://t.co/5KNd6E3Tid pic.twitter.com/2XDyAY80cI #Munich
— RT (@RT_com) July 22, 2016
An assailant has shot people in a cafe located in the shopping center and at a railway station, German BR24 news reports, citing eye witnesses.
Munich authorities declared an emergency in the city following the shooting at the mall. Local residents were urged not to leave their homes via special messages sent to their smartphones by the Katwarn system.
Meanwhile, Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer and Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann have formed a crisis center.
The shooters are apparently still on the run, German media reports, citing police.
Watch LIVE #Periscope outside the shooting in #Munich #OEZ https://t.co/G35ydO9Ycb
— Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia) July 22, 2016
A man entered the shopping mall and randomly opened fire, injuring many people, a person Periscoping from the scene said. The shooter then reportedly left the center and headed towards a railway station.
Schüsse in OEZ - Polizei in Schusssicheren Westen sperrt das Gebiet ab #OEZ #münchen pic.twitter.com/VvHF1Y3gOE
— Timm Kraeft (@TimmKraeft) July 22, 2016
Staff at the shopping mall still remain in the building. An employee told Reuters that people are hiding in storage rooms.
"All the people from outside came streaming into the store and I only saw one person on the ground who was so severely injured that he definitely didn't survive," the employee told Reuters.
#München pic.twitter.com/v6MWTHI1Os
— maxmstrman (@Maxmstrman) July 22, 2016
Munich transport authorities say they have halted several bus, train and tram lines.
According to some reports cited by Die Welt, the shooting began in a McDonald's located near the shopping mall.
Stehe vor dem #OEZ pic.twitter.com/qOkJO5YrYP
— Richard Gutjahr (@gutjahr) July 22, 2016
