STDE, Germany — A quiet Monday morning turned into a scene of unimaginable horror in the northern German town of Stade when a gunman opened fire at a youth welfare facility, leaving five people dead and several others wounded.

Police launched a massive operation on Dankersstrasse in the city center after shots rang out near the youth center. Authorities quickly confirmed the grim toll: at least five slain.

The suspect, a male, was arrested along with another person. Cops later declared the area cleared and said there was “no danger to the public.”

Viral footage shows the chaotic aftermath.

A widely shared video from the scene, captured from inside a moving vehicle, shows emergency vehicles and white vans parked along a tree-lined residential street. Red-and-white traffic cones cordon off parts of the paved walkway, while hoses snake across the ground. Brick buildings and greenery frame the tense scene as police and emergency crews swarm the area.

The clip, posted shortly after the shooting, captures the heavy law enforcement response in real time.

Details remain scarce as the investigation ramps up.

Stade police said shots were fired near the youth center in the heart of the town, which sits west of Hamburg and has a population of around 50,000. The exact sequence of events, identities of the victims, and any possible motive have not been released.

Local media and police described the location as a youth welfare facility or youth center. Two people were taken into custody, with one identified as the primary suspect.

“No danger to the public” — but shock ripples through the community.

Authorities urged residents to avoid the area during the initial response. By midday, police assured the public that the immediate threat had been neutralized and that a full investigation was underway.

This marks another grim chapter in Germany’s history with gun violence, though details on the perpetrator’s background, weapon, or connection to the facility remain unknown at this hour.

As of early afternoon local time, more information was expected from officials in the coming hours. The town, known for its historic Hanseatic charm, is now the site of one of the deadliest shootings in recent German memory.

Updates will be added as police release new details on the victims and motive.