Five people have been killed in a shooting in the northern German city of Stade, prompting a major police operation.

According to Reuters, a male suspect has been arrested by the authorities.

Local media reported that the incident took place at a youth centre in central Stade, a town of just under 50,000 residents located west of Hamburg.

Police urged members of the public to avoid the area while the operation was under way and called on people not to spread unverified information.