Germany is investigating a mass shooting at a mother-and-child support centre in the northern town of Eschede that left six people dead, in one of the country’s deadliest shootings in recent years.
Authorities said a 45-year-old man opened fire at the facility on Monday after reportedly attending a scheduled meeting linked to a dispute over the upbringing of his infant daughter. The victims were four women and two men, all employees of the centre.
Police said the suspect’s three-month-old daughter and the child’s mother were unharmed. The suspected gunman was taken into custody along with the child’s mother and another woman as investigators worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned the shooting, saying he was “deeply shocked by the level of violence in a place meant to provide safety and support.”
Police sealed off the area near the centre, while forensic teams searched the scene. Five victims died at the facility and a sixth later succumbed to injuries in hospital. Authorities later said there was no ongoing threat to the public. Investigators identified the suspect as a German-born man of Turkish origin who lives near Hanover.
Mass shootings remain relatively rare in Germany compared with many other countries, but several high-profile attacks in recent years have reignited debate over public safety, mental health and firearm regulations. German authorities maintain strict gun laws, although legal firearm ownership remains possible under licensing requirements.
The attack also highlights growing concerns over domestic and family-related violence. German officials have repeatedly called for stronger support services for families experiencing conflict, warning that disputes involving children can escalate into serious acts of violence if early intervention fails.
