Eight people dead in mass shooting in Hanau, Germany

19 February 2020, 23:28 | Updated: 20 February 2020, 00:31

Police in Germany have said at least eight people have been shot dead, with several others injured, in the town of Hanau.

Regional broadcaster Hessenschau says two shooting incidents took place at two separate shisha bars in the town, which is located about 25KM east of Frankfurt.

An unknown number of gunmen killed three people at the first shisha bar, before driving to the second and shooting dead another five victims, regional broadcaster Hessenschau reports.

Emergency services have descended on Kurt-Schumacher-Platz, the central square in the German town.

Police officers and helicopters are patrolling both areas.

The shots were fired from a moving car at around 10.15pm local time, German media reports.

Regional public broadcaster Hessischer Rundfunk reported hearing witnesses reported hearing eight or nine shots and seeing at least one person lying on the ground.

A short police statement gave no information on the victims.

Officials say the suspects fled the scene and are currently at large.

The motive for the attack is not clear.