Police confirmed that a 45‑year‑old Turkish national shot six staff members during a meeting over custody of his daughter at the mothers‑and‑children centre on Dankerstrasse in Stade, northern Germany.
The tragedy began around 12:10 local time and resulted in five immediate deaths and a sixth dying in hospital with injuries. No children were harmed; the baby and her mother were present in the office at the time of the shooting.
The suspect, who had an appointment with many of the victims, fled the scene in a Mercedes driven by a woman. Armed officers chased the vehicle and fired repeatedly at the car when the occupants failed to comply with the command “stop where you are.”
Police are now detaining the suspect and two other people; investigators say the shooting was “an act of violence carried out in an extremely cold‑blooded manner, with no political or economic motives.”
Large numbers of police and emergency personnel have been stationed in the area, and children attending nearby daycare schools have been brought home by their parents. Stade lies about 30 km west of Hamburg; the incident has raised concerns about safety at child welfare facilities.
