Germany Muenster attack: Where is Muenster? Van ploughs into busy street

Local media outlets outlets have reported the death of three people after a man ran down a group of people in Muenster’s old town.

The suspected attacker has been reported to have fled the scene of the attack before shooting himself.

A police spokesman also said: “There are several dead, probably including the suspect.”

Local residents have been warned to avoid the old town part of Muenster as emergency services descend upon the area.

A wide scale police operation is now in effect and security forces have said a terrorist attack has not been ruled out.

A security source said: “The scenario is such that an attack cannot be ruled out.”

Erich Rettinghaus, chairman of German Police union in NRW said: “First of all we are mourning for the victims and injured people.

“Our condolences to all the injured people and the family of the dead and injured and we also wish a speedy recovery.

“There has always been a latently high possibility of attacks in all of Germany. Now it has also hit NRW, so far we have always been able to prevent planned attacks in advance, this time we failed.

“We now have to investigate and arrest those responsible to avoid further attacks”

As many as 30 people are believed to have been injured in the van attack.

The attack comes after a terrorist ploughed into a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016, killing 21 people.

Where is Muenster in Germany?

Muenster is a medieval city in the northwest of Germany, in the heart of the Westphalia region.

The picturesque city is located about 399km (248 miles) to the west of Germany.

The vehicle which has been descried in some reports as a small truck or van, drove at a crowd of people around the Kiepenkerl Denkmal statue in the northern section of the old town.

The area is a popular tourist destination with many outdoor cafes, historical sights and stores.

Photographs captured at the scene show upturned tables and chairs scattered around the street.

Parts of the old town are now under lock down as emergency services sweep the area and tend to the injured.

As of 2016 there are more than 310,000 people living in the historic city.

The city’s history dates it as far back as the year 797.