Police said ten people have been killed and 16 others injured in a “shooting rampage” at a shopping mall in Munich, Germany Friday evening.
Munich police said that a man found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound appeared to be the only shooter.
READ MORE: Shocking video shows alleged Munich shooting suspect open fire on shoppers
At a press conference, police chief Hubertus Andraes said the suspect was an 18-year-old German-Iranian from Munich.
Andraes said that the attacker’s motive was still “fully unclear.”
Emergency personnel responded to reports of multiple people shot at the Olympia Einkaufszentrum shopping centre, outside of a McDonalds restaurant at 5:50 p.m. local time.
It was initially reported that other suspects were involved in the shooting and had fled. A massive city-wide search for the suspected gunmen put the city’s transit system on lockdown and residents were told to stay indoors.
RAW VIDEO: police seen in tactical gear following shooting in Munich, Germany
Police have since said the two others who fled the area quickly were investigated but had “nothing to do with the incident.”
The public transit ban was lifted early Saturday morning and police gave a “cautious all clear.”
WATCH: Raw video appears to show people running from Munich mall
While police called the mall shooting an act of terrorism, they said they had “no indication” it involved Islamic extremism though at least one witness said he heard a shooter shout an anti-foreigner slur.
Late Friday, bomb experts checked for possible explosives on the body of a man found about a kilometer from the attack scene, the dpa news agency said. A backpack found on the body was also examined as police tried to determine if it was that of the shooter.
Earlier, police said there were multiple unconfirmed reports of “more violence and possible gunfire in the City Center,” the force said on social media and told residents to “please avoid public areas.”
According to AFP, Munich’s main train station was evacuated and the metro and bus services were suspended, but no other sites were confirmed to have had shots fired.
Citizens near the scene of the shooting were opening their doors to shelter people using the hashtag #OpenDoor or #OffenTur.
Facebook has also activated its Safety Check feature, to allow people in the midst of the situation let their loved ones know whether or not they are out of harm’s way.
WATCH: Officials evacuate large crowds from shooting scene in Munich, Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is being briefed on the attack and the government has sent their elite anti-terrorism force to the scene.
Merkel’s chief of staff, Peter Altmaier called the shooting a “cruel and inhumane attack.” Altmaier also said that terrorism can not be ruled out.
“We can’t rule out that there are terrorist links. We can’t confirm them, but we are investigating along those lines too.”
Global Affairs Canada said the agency “is monitoring reports of a shopping centre shooting in Munich.”
“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with those affected by a shooting at the Olympia shopping centre in Munich, Germany,” spokesperson François Lasalle said in a statement. “We are trying to determine if Canadian citizens have been directly affected and stand ready to provide consular assistance to Canadian citizens.”
Justin Trudeau sent out a statement offering his sympathy to the victims and the families involved in the attack.
President Barack Obama also commented on the shooting, calling Germany one of America’s “greatest allies.” He also said that the attack was another reminder that our “way of life, our freedoms, our ability to go about our business everyday” depends on law enforcement.
WATCH: President Obama comments on shooting situation in Munich, Germany
This is the second violent incident to take place in Germany this week. On Monday, a teenage Afghan migrant armed with an axe and a knife attacked passengers aboard a regional train in southern Germany, injuring four people before he was shot and killed by police as he fled, authorities said.
*With files from the Associated Press
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