At least six people are dead and several wounded after gunman opens fire in Hamburg shooting 

At least seven people are dead and dozens are wounded after a gunman opened fire in a church in Hamburg.

Police declared a 'mass casualty incident' following the massacre at Jehovah's Witnesses' Kingdom Hall in the GroßBorstel district of Germany's second-biggest city at around 9.15pm.

Police spokesman Holger Vehren said officers were alerted to the shooting about 9.15pm and were on the scene quickly. 

After officers arrived, they heard a shot from an upper floor and found a person upstairs who may have been a shooter.  

Police did not have to use their firearms and the gunman is believed to be among the dead.

Armed police were seen pointing their guns up a stairwell in the church after storming the building

People in the building were seen being ushered to safety by policemen at the scene

People were walking with their hands on their heads as they left the church

The attack happened in Germany's second-largest city of Hamburg, in the GroßBorstel district

Vehren said: 'We only know that several people died here. Several people are wounded, they were taken to hospitals.'

He had no information on the severity of the injuries suffered by the wounded.

Vehren said there was no immediate indication that a shooter was on the run and that it appeared likely that the perpetrator or perpetrators were either in the building or among the dead.

Police had no information on the event that was under way in the building when the shooting took place.

They also had no immediate information on a possible motive. Vehren said that 'the background is still completely unclear.'

After officers arrived, they heard a shot from an upper floor and found a person upstairs who may have been a shooter. Pictured: An officer kicks open the door of the three-storey building 

Police secured the area following the deadly shooting in Hamburg, Germany, this evening

Ambulances and fire engines rushed to the scene alongside armed police officers

Local media footage showed a big police presence outside the Jehovah's Witnesses' Kingdom Hall, a modern three-story building.

A police spokesman at the scene said: 'We have no indications of a perpetrator on the run.'

He added that investigators instead have 'indications that a perpetrator may have been in the building and may be even among the dead'.

Police are seen near a site where a fatal shooting took place at a Jehovah's Witness church in Hamburg

Eight people were reportedly seriously wounded while 24 more had minor injuries

Armed police were seen pointing their guns up a stairwell in the church after storming the building. 

Eight people were reportedly seriously wounded while 24 more had minor injuries. 

Armed police in bulletproof vests and helmets rushed to the scene along with paramedics and doctors.

Some of the dead reportedly include women. Injured people were initially cared for by paramedics in large-capacity ambulances on the scene. 

A police spokesman said that at about 9pm local time, one or several unknown perpetrators shot at people in a church, Broadcaster NDR reported. 

The spokesman said: 'The dead people all have gunshot wounds.'

Some of the dead reportedly include women. Injured people were initially cared for by paramedics in large-capacity ambulances on the scene 

Armed police were at the scene alongside paramedics and other emergency services

Hamburg Police said: 'According to initial findings, a shot was fired in a church on Deelböge street in the GroßBorstel district. 

'Several people were seriously injured, some fatally. We are on site with a large contingent of forces. 

'So far, there is no reliable information on the motive for the crime.'

Armed police officers were seen on the roads around the scene after the attack

A police spokesman said there was no immediate indication that a shooter was on the run and that it appeared likely that the perpetrator or perpetrators were either in the building or among the dead

Mayor of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher said: 'The reports from are shocking. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims'

An event at the church had started at 7pm, two hours before the first call to emergency services.

Mayor of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher said: 'The reports from are shocking. 

'My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. 

'The emergency services are working flat out to track down the perpetrators and clarify the background.'

Armed police were seen in bullet-proof vests and headgear and were carrying weapons

Police said there was no clear motive yet for the attack and urged people not to spread rumours

Police previously said on Twitter that a large operation was under way in the next-door Alsterdorf district. 

The area is a few miles north of the downtown area of Hamburg, which is Germany's second-biggest city. 

An emergency alert was posted after the shooting from the Department of the Interior that warned of a 'life-threatening situation' and 'extreme danger' in the area.