STADE, Germany, June 29 — Six people were killed and several others wounded Monday at a youth welfare facility in Stade, a town of roughly 50,000 in the German state of Lower Saxony, roughly 40 kilometers west of Hamburg, authorities said. A 45-year-old German citizen of Turkish origin, born in Germany, was arrested in connection with the attack.
Police said the shooting occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. local time. Officers responded within minutes and intercepted the suspect’s vehicle as he attempted to flee, firing at the tires to bring the car to a halt. Three suspects were taken into custody: the 45-year-old main suspect; a 65-year-old woman who served as the driver and is closely associated with the suspect’s family; and the suspect’s 34-year-old partner, who is the mother of the infant, Lüneburg Police Chief Kathrin Schuol told reporters.
The victims — four women and two men — were all employees of the facility, Schuol confirmed. Five died at the scene; a sixth succumbed to injuries in hospital. The suspect’s three-month-old daughter was present during the shooting and was not injured. The infant has been placed under the care of the German Youth Welfare Office.
Authorities said the incident appeared linked to a custody dispute. The suspect had scheduled an appointment with staff at the facility that morning to discuss the custody arrangement for his infant daughter, investigators said. The investigation was ongoing, and prosecutors had not formally commented on a motive as of Monday evening.
“This was an act of extremely cold-blooded violent crime,” said Lower Saxony Interior Minister Daniela Behrens. “Such violence against those who care for children and young people is particularly shocking.”
Germany maintains some of Europe’s most stringent firearms regulations. With a population of approximately 83 million, the country has roughly 3 million registered weapons held by about 929,000 license holders, according to official data. Mass shootings are comparatively rare, though not unprecedented. In 2020, a shooting in Hanau, near Frankfurt, killed nine people of immigrant background at two hookah bars before the attacker and his mother were found dead at his home. Earlier, in 2002, a school massacre in Erfurt left 16 people dead, including 12 teachers, before the gunman died by suicide.
The Stade facility served children and families in the region. Details about the suspect’s prior interactions with social services were not immediately available. Public prosecutors in Lüneburg said they expected to provide an update on the investigation Tuesday.
Emergency services responded to the scene in large numbers. A wide area around the facility was cordoned off for several hours as investigators worked. Residents in the quiet town, accustomed to a pace of life far removed from major urban centers, expressed shock at the violence.
The case has drawn renewed attention to the safety of social workers and youth welfare employees in Germany. Several advocacy groups called on authorities to review security protocols at similar facilities nationwide.
No further details were available Monday night. The investigation is being led by the Lüneburg police in coordination with the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office.
