STORY: Several people died in a shooting in Germany’s Hamburg on Thursday, at a place of worship used by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Tactical teams stormed the building after they received a call around 9pm.

Police say a shot rang out from the building as officers arrived, and a dead person was found upstairs who they believe may be the shooter.

A spokesperson said late Thursday they were still hunting for answers.

“The context and scope around what happened is still unclear. It happened in a building of the Jehovah's Witnesses but the reasons are still completely unclear. "

Authorities continued to seal off nearby streets and performed body searches on people.

Local newspapers report that at least seven people were killed, while eight others were injured.

The mayor of Hamburg said he extended his deepest sympathy to the families of victims.

He assured that forces are “working at full speed” to pursue perpetrators and clarify the background.

Germany has been shaken by a number of shootings in the last few years.

Including one in 2019 outside a synagogue in Halle on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, and in 2020, when a suspected far-right extremist shot dead nine people with Turkish migrant backgrounds in Hanau.