Germany: Mass Shooting Leaves Eight Deaths and Multiple Injured

At least eight people were killed and five other people injured during two drive-by shooting incidents at two different shisha bars in the German city of Hanau, local media reported late Wednesday.

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The criminal episodes took place at about 22h00. local time, the police said. The first one happened at Kurt-Schumacher-Platz, in central Hanau and the other, shortly after in Kesselstadt.

According to AP, officers immediately cordoned off the scene of one of the shootings as a helicopter hovered overhead. A car covered in thermal foil also could be seen, with a shattered glass next to it. Forensic experts in white overalls collected evidence.

Both actions are being investigated as related. German police believe the attacks to be gang-related but hve not been officially confirmed. The motive for the shooting is not clear, either.

Police arrested one person in connection with the attacks, the Bild newspaper later reported. According to media reports, the suspect entered the first bar in the downtown initially and opened fire, and then headed for the other one in the Kasselstadt district.

The suspects are reportedly on the run and the authorities are searching for them. A large contingent of officers was also deployed in Lamboy after reports of a possible shootout there, but it was not confirmed.