6 killed in shooting at youth welfare facility in Germany

Six people were killed in a shooting at a youth welfare facility in northern Germany, according to officials. The suspected gunman was arrested after a short police pursuit.

The shooting happened around noon Monday at a facility on Dankersstraße in Stade, a city west of Hamburg, according to police in Lüneburg.

Police said officers were called after multiple emergency reports of gunfire at the facility. After securing the building, they found four people dead inside. A fifth victim died while being treated at the scene, and a sixth later died at a hospital.

The victims were all adults with ties to the facility, police said. Four were women and two were men.

The suspected gunman fled in a car but was arrested a short time later after officers pursued him. A firearm was recovered during the arrest, and authorities said there is no further danger to the public.

Police identified the suspect as a 45-year-old Turkish citizen who was born in Germany and lives in the Hannover area. Investigators believe the shooting was linked to a family dispute.

The suspect had gone to the facility for a meeting with staff members about custody of his 3-month-old daughter, police said. The child and her 34-year-old mother were both at the facility when the shooting happened.

The baby was placed in the care of child welfare officials. Police said the mother is still being questioned as part of the investigation.

A 65-year-old woman was also taken into custody. Police said she was driving the car used to flee the scene and has close ties to the family.

Investigators are still working to determine the full circumstances of the shooting and whether anyone else was involved.