Five people have been killed in a shooting in northern Germany, police have said. A German police spokesperson said the shooting took place in the town of Stade on Tuesday, with the motive for the attack still unclear. A male suspect has been detained, they added. In a post on social media, the Lüneburg Police Department said: “A police operation is currently taking place in Stade. Avoid the area widely!”Local media has reported that the incident took place in a youth centre in central Stade.Stade is a city of 50,000 people located near west Hamburg in northern Germany. More follows on this breaking news story. Subscribe here to get the latest updates from The IndependentShooting took place at youth centre - report Local media has reported that the incident had taken place in a youth centre in central Stade.Some reports referred to multiple suspects, but police did not immediately confirm this. Harriette Boucher29 June 2026 13:22Public urged to leave scene of crime immediately German police have told members of the public to “leave the area” while a “major police operation” takes place. In a post to a WhatsApp group, it said: “A major police operation is currently underway on Dankersstraße in Stade.“We ask you to leave the area and give it a wide berth for your own safety.“Follow the instructions of the emergency personnel on site. “Please share only official information and do not spread rumour.” Harriette Boucher29 June 2026 13:20Police urge people to avoid area as major operation underway+++ACHTUNG – Polizeieinsatz in der Dankersstraße in Stade+++Derzeit kommt es in Stade zu einer polizeilichen Einsatzlage. Meidet den Bereich weiträumig!Einsatzbegleitende Informationen erhaltet ihr auf dem WhatsApp-Kanal der Polizei Stade unter:https://t.co/LeoOTiCZOz pic.twitter.com/12fvSVxH8I— Polizeidirektion Lüneburg (@Polizei_LG) June 29, 2026 Harriette Boucher29 June 2026 13:10Mapped: Suspect held after shooting in Stade, Germany(Independent)Harriette Boucher29 June 2026 13:09Suspect arrested following shooting - report German media has reported that a male suspect was arrested following a shooting that killed five people in the town of Stade. Dpa news agency cited police in its reports. The motive of the attack is still unclear. Harriette Boucher29 June 2026 13:08Five killed in shooting in GermanyFive people have been shot dead in an attack in northern Germany, police have said. A German police spokesperson said the shooting took place in the town of Stade on Tuesday, with the motive for the attack still unclear. Daniel Keane29 June 2026 13:01