In brief
A 45‑year‑old Turkish‑German suspect opened fire at the youth welfare facility on Dankerstrasse in Stade, killing four women and two men, all staff members. The incident, sparked by a custody dispute over his baby daughter, prompted large‑scale police deployment and a swift response that removed the suspect from a Mercedes. The victims were among a staff roster of the center, and the baby and mother present were unharmed. Authorities have detained three suspects and ensured no further risk to the public.
At roughly 12:10 local time (10:10 GMT), a gunman opened fire inside the Jugendwohnen facility on Dankerstrasse in Stade. The shots killed four women and two men, all staff members of the centre for mothers and children. A sixth victim succumbed to injuries in hospital, bringing the death toll to six.
The suspect, a 45‑year‑old Turkish national born in Germany and residing in Hanover, was attending an appointment to discuss the custody of his three‑month‑old daughter. During the meeting, he reportedly fired for “family reasons,” according to Lower Saxony Interior Minister Daniela Behrens, who described the act as “extremely cold‑blooded” with no political or economic motive.
Police cordoned the area and prevented further access, while emergency services treated wounded victims. The suspect fled in a Mercedes steered by a woman; authorities shot him repeatedly and detained both occupants after a confrontation near a country road.
The incident has prompted a large police presence in Stade and a review of the security protocols at child‑care facilities throughout the region. Stade, a town of about 50 000 residents located 30 km west of Hamburg, has since been cleared for normal activity, though authorities urge residents to remain vigilant.
