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.
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."
#Munich #shooting: First videos show people fleeing #mall area amid #gunfire (VIDEOS) https://t.co/L49GZmV2lS pic.twitter.com/tlZfGJbBFh
— RT (@RT_com) July 22, 2016
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.
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.
#oez #danger - Dear new colleagues of @Adobe in #MUC, if you're still in the office, go home now... #safety pic.twitter.com/KIRAqMb5P4
— Roland Karl (@rokame) July 22, 2016
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.
A man working at a local petrol station told the media: "We see just ambulances and it's like firemen and police but all this area is evacuated, all the streets.
Watch LIVE #Periscope outside the shooting in #Munich #OEZ https://t.co/G35ydO9Ycb
— Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia) July 22, 2016
"Now [there] are no cars just on the side of the streets. All of the streets are blocked. I see that the people are scared. Everybody are running around."
Police have confirmed that there a multiple deaths as a result of the incident and German media have reported there may be up to 15 killed.
Tonight, Munich police tweeted: 'We currently do not know where to find the perpetrators. Watch yourself and avoid to be the public'.
#München pic.twitter.com/v6MWTHI1Os
— maxmstrman (@Maxmstrman) July 22, 2016
A second shooting has taken place near Marienplatz subway station, which is 10 stops from the Olympic Park area.
A police spokesman said; 'It is really something big going down.'
The force in Munich posted on its website: 'At this time we have a major operation underway. Please avoid the area of the shopping centre.'
First reports said a heavily armed man wandered through the shopping centre opening fire at will.
It is reported that the gunman fled after his shooting spree on the city underground network, which has now been shut down.
Police said they are also hunting a second gunman involved in the incident. Photos flashed on to social media sites of at least one body covered by aluminium sheets.
'Stay in your homes. Leave the road!' Polizei München said in a Tweet.
The shooting comes just days after a teenage asylum seeker went on the rampage with an axe and a knife on a regional train in Germany, injuring five people.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the teenager was believed to be a 'lone wolf' attacker who appeared to have been 'inspired' by the Islamic State group but was not a member of the jihadist network.