A number of people are feared dead after a shooting at a shopping centre in Germany.

Shots were fired at the Olympia Einkaufszentrum mall in Munich, police said.

Munich Police told the dpa news agency in Germany they expected "several dead".

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The force tweeted that the situation is "confusing" and warned people to avoid public spaces in the city.

The number of casualties or any fatalities have not yet been confirmed by authorities.

British nationals in Germany are being advised to comply with instructions from local authorities.

"Avoid this location and follow the advice of local authorities," a Foreign Office spokesman said.

People were seen fleeing from the building in videos posted on social media.

In one picture a person can be seen lying on the ground covered in blood outside the centre.

In an unverified video, now removed, a man with dark hair, wearing a black t-shirt and denim trousers, appears to take aim at people outside a McDonald's restaurant near the Olympia-Einkaufszentrum metro station.

He raises his arms, apparently holding a shotgun, and appears to fire at people outside the restaurant, who can be seen running for cover.

The British Foreign Office is "urgently" investigating whether any Brits are involved in the incident.

Glasgow Times:

A spokesman said: "We are urgently investigating an incident in Munich and stand ready to provide assistance."

Police have responded to the attack in large numbers. Dozens of vehicles can be seen lining the street outside the shopping centre, a number of armed officers and a helicopter are at the scene. A cordon appears to be in place and the area has been evacuated.

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The shopping centre in the northern part of Munich is not far from the city's Olympic Stadium in the Moosach district of the Bavarian capital.

It is the second attack in Germany in less than a week.

On Monday, a 17-year-old Afghan wounded four people in an axe and knife attack on a regional train near the Bavarian city of Wurzburg, and another woman outside as he fled.

All survived, although one man from the train remains in a life-threatening condition. The attacker was shot and killed by police.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the train attack, but authorities have said the teenager probably acted alone.

Police in Munich say they do not know where the attacker or attackers are and have repeated the warning for people to avoid public places.