In the early afternoon of Monday, a 45‑year‑old man who was in a custody dispute over his one‑month‑old daughter opened fire inside a mothers and children centre in the northern German city of Stade, killing six of its staff and leaving a seventh wounded.
All six victims were adults – four women and two men – who were on the premises to provide support and counselling. A third employee later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Police say the suspect, who had no firearms licence and had previously been known for making threats, fled the scene in a car that was chased and stopped by armed officers. The driver was a woman who was also detained. Authorities have confirmed that no further threat remains and that the incident was not linked to political or economic motives.
The shooting took place around 12:10 local time (10:10 GMT) on Dank Strasse, a street in the centre of Stade. Residents were told to stay away from the area while police and emergency crews responded. Children who were at a nearby daycare and primary school were safely retrieved by their parents.
Stade, with roughly 50,000 inhabitants, lies about 30 km west of Hamburg. The incident has prompted a national conversation about gun safety and family violence.
For those who were in the area or have additional information, authorities are asking for contact through a public form.
