Police in Munich have confirmed that 10 people have died, likely including an attacker, in Friday’s mass shooting.
The force said they believe that a suspected gunman involved in the attacks killed himself, and may have been the sole shooter.
The country’s GSG9, or Grenzschutzgruppe 9 der Bundespolizei group has been specially flown into the city to deal with the incident.
Police have told the public to stay indoors and have put the city in lockdown.
There have been reports from local media that a 15-year-old girl is among the dead, and injured children have been admitted to children’s hospitals in the city.
Shots were fired at the Olympia Einkaufszentrum mall in Munich just after 6pm, and various incidents took place in the surrounding area shortly after.
German chancellor Angela Merkel is to convene a meeting of the country’s security council on Saturday to address the shootings, and is being constantly briefed on developments, her chief of staff Peter Altmaier has said.
British nationals in Germany are being advised to comply with instructions from local authorities.
“Avoid this location and follow the advice of local authorities,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.
People were seen fleeing from the building in videos posted on social media.
In one picture a person can be seen lying on the ground covered in blood outside the centre.
In another video, a man with dark hair, wearing a black t-shirt and denim trousers, appears to take aim at people outside a McDonald’s restaurant near the Olympia-Einkaufszentrum metro station.
He raises his arms, apparently holding a shotgun, and appears to fire at people outside the restaurant, who can be seen running for cover.
The sound of multiple shots being fired can be heard in an unverified video as shoppers and passers-by run for cover.
Police have responded to the attack in large numbers. Dozens of vehicles can be seen lining the street outside the shopping centre, a number of armed officers and a helicopter are at the scene. A cordon appears to be in place and the area has been evacuated.
The shopping centre in the northern part of Munich is not far from the city’s Olympic Stadium in the Moosach district of the Bavarian capital.
It is the second attack in Germany in less than a week.
On Monday, a 17-year-old Afghan wounded four people in an axe and knife attack on a regional train near the Bavarian city of Wurzburg, and another woman outside as he fled.
All survived, although one man from the train remains in a life-threatening condition. The attacker was shot and killed by police.
A spokeswoman for the Munich police said: “We believe we are dealing with a shooting rampage.
“We believe there was more than one perpetrator. The first reprots came at 6pm, the shooting apparently began at a McDonald’s in the shopping centre.
“There are still people in the shopping centre. We are trying to get the people out and take care of them.”
So far nobody has been arrested in relation to the attacks.
The British Foreign Office is “urgently” investigating whether any Brits are involved in the incident.
A spokesman said: “We are urgently investigating an incident in Munich and stand ready to provide assistance.”
World leaders and prominent politicians have offered their support from around the globe to the German people.
President Barack Obama said: “Our hearts go out to those who have been injured. It’s still an active situation.
“Germany is one of our closest allies, so we will pledge all the support that they may need in these circumstances.”
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “Deeply shocked and saddened by Munich shootings.
“My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and all of Germany at this time.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Thinking of everyone there and also the emergency services at the scene.”
