Several people were shot dead after two unknown gunmen attacked shisha bars in the German city of Hanau, Hessenshau reported on Wednesday quoting police sources. German police later confirmed that eight people were killed and five people were critically injured as a result of the shooting.
Police arrested one person in connection with the attacks, the Bild newspaper later reported.
hundertschaft gerade unterwegs, vorläufiger ausnahmezustand.
— dnerfan (@dnerfunboss) February 19, 2020
das ist echt kein spaß mehr.
unter den todesopfern ist ein bekannter von mir. #hanau pic.twitter.com/t6EuCClLwk
According to media reports, the suspect entered the first bar in the city centre initially and opened fire, and then headed for another one in the Kasselstadt district. Shots were also heard at Kurt-Schumacher-Platz, a central square in Kesselstadt, Bild added.
Shooting at a shisha bar in Hanau several dead#Hanau pic.twitter.com/hZ1lY4DlUL
— 🦁 de wilde leeuw 🦁🇳🇱 ⚡ (@wilde_westenNL) February 19, 2020
According to Hanauer Anzeiger newspaper, German prosecutors initially confirmed the death of two people.
The suspects are reportedly on the run and the police are searching for them. The motive behind the attacks remains unknown.
The incidents took place at about 10 p.m. local time (21:00 GMT), the police said.
A large contingent of officers was also deployed in Lamboy after reports of a possible shootout there, but it was not confirmed.
