Several people have been shot dead in a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg, Germany.

According to DW, a German publication, the shooting also left several victims with gunshot wounds.

German media reports said the shooting at the Kingdom Hall located in the Gross Borstel district occurred at about 9:00 p.m.

“The dead all have gunshot wounds,” stated a police spokesperson.

The motive for the shooting was not immediately known, said the police, and the shooter(s) yet to be identified.

The Hamburg Police tweeted that the situation had been brought under control without having to fire a shot.

“Our measures and investigations are running at full speed. As soon as there is reliable information about the use in #GroßBorstel, we will inform you immediately at this point,” said the police. “We found a lifeless person in a community centre in #GroßBorstel, which we assume could be a perpetrator. In order to rule out the involvement of other perpetrators, we carry out checks and search comprehensively.”

The police noted that “based on the current state of affairs, we assume a perpetrator. The police measures in the area are gradually being discontinued. Investigations into the background to the crime are ongoing” and that they “have set up a reference portal to which photos and videos of the crime or relevant events in this context can be uploaded.”