Hamburg - A shooting at a Jehovah's Witnesses Hall in Hamburg, Germany, resulted in eight deaths, including the suspected shooter, and multiple injuries.

Police are still investigating the motive behind the shooting, and no further information has been released as of yet. Forensic investigators are working to collect evidence. Officials at Hamburg, Germany’s second biggest city, plan to hold a news conference to discuss the details of the incident.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a former Hamburg mayor, described the shooting as “a brutal act of violence.”

David Semonian, a spokesperson for Jehovah's Witnesses, expressed condolences for the victims and their families and expressed appreciation for the police and emergency services.

“The congregation elders in the local area are providing pastoral care for those affected by the event,” he wrote. “We understand that the authorities are still investigating the details of this crime. We appreciate the courageous help provided by the police and emergency services.”

The scene of the shooting was the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Kingdom Hall, a three-story building next to an auto repair shop in the Gross Borstel district, a few kilometers (miles) from downtown Hamburg.

The Jehovah's Witnesses church is an international Church founded in the United States in the 19th century, with headquarters in Warwick, New York. It claims a membership of approximately 8.7 million worldwide, with around 170,000 members in Germany.

Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their evangelistic efforts, which include distributing literature and knocking on doors to share their beliefs. They also have distinctive practices, such as refusing to bear arms, receive blood transfusions, salute national flags, or participate in secular government.