Gunmen attacked a busy mall in the German city of Munich on Friday evening, killing at least eight people and sending shoppers running for their lives in what police said was a terrorist attack.
Authorities told the public to get off the streets as the city — Germany's third biggest — went into lockdown with transport halted and highways sealed off.
A police spokesman said three gunmen were on the run after the initial shooting subsided. The city was placed under a state of emergency as police hunted for them.
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“We are telling the people of Munich there are shooters on the run who are dangerous,” he said. “We are urging people to stay indoors.”
Police said later that eight people had been killed and an undetermined number wounded. A ninth body had also been found and they were checking to see it was one of the gunmen.
Munich newspaper
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As special forces deployed in the city, some people remained holed up in the Olympia shopping centre which police said had been evacuated.
“Many shots were fired, I can't say how many but it's been a lot,” said a shop worker hiding in a store room inside the mall.
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 terror network.
It also follows a truck attack in the French Riviera city of Nice after Bastille Day fireworks last week that left 84 people dead.
Shots fired in Munich shopping centre, major police operation under way - German media >https://t.co/xBYXLSL4HZ
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) >July 22, 2016
UPDATE: Munich police tell people to avoid area after shooting incident at shopping centre >https://t.co/pWwa7GBAOP>pic.twitter.com/ApYwCqRchy
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) >July 22, 2016