According to the local police and media, at least seven people were shot dead and several were injured during a shooting at a church in Hamburg, Germany.
The shooting took place inside a Jehovah's Witness church, according to the initial assessment of the police. On Thursday evening, the Alsterdorf residents received a warning on their mobile phones about a "life-threatening situation" going on in their area and were advised to stay at home.
The nearby streets to the church have been sealed off by the police, who rushed to the scene at large.
The shooter is identified as a former member of the religious community aged between 30 to 40 years by Der Spiegel magazine.
The police were alerted of the shooting at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday. As of now, they believe there is no reason to assume that the shooter is on the run. "The officers themselves also heard a shot coming from the upper floors of the building. They went upstairs and also found a body there," a spokesperson for the department confirmed to the local media outlets.
The police have requested that the local public stay calm and not spread any rumors until further information is released by the authorities.
The team of officers that went in is still at work on the scene and has not identified any victims as of now.
It is believed that a few members were gathered for Bible study when the shooting began around 9 pm local time.
A spokesperson for the Jehovah's Witness community in Germany, expressed their shock and sadness at the horrific event.
Footage released by local media outlets shows police escorting people to ambulances and other first responders. As of now, there is no reliable information on the motive behind the crime.
The mayor of Hamburg, Peter Tschentscher, expressed his shock and sympathy for the families of the victims via Twitter. "I extend my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims. The forces are working at full speed to pursue the perpetrators and clarify the background," he tweeted.
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