German police have confirmed that at least seven people have been injured in an axe attack at Duesseldorf's main train station at roughly 8.50pm on Thursday night.
In a statement, local police said a suspect has been arrested and an axe recovered.
"A man, presumably armed with an axe, attacked people indiscriminately," the statement read.
The suspect appears to have made an attempted escape by jumping from an overpass, police say.
"He finds himself seriously injured in hospital," the statement said.
Various media reports suggest a second suspect was also arrested.
Unverified videos and images uploaded to social media show victims lying on the floor in the station, attended to by other commuters.
A 13-year-old girl was one of those injured in the attack, a local newspaper has reported.
"The gaping wound on the upper arm described the witness as if someone had struck a tree with an axe," the paper reported.
Police say at least one of the five victims was injured seriously.
The motive for the attack is currently unknown.
A suspect has "mental problems", the police said.
Police have said that public speculation is pointless.
In the wake of the attack, authorities shut down the station for searching and completely suspended all rail traffic.
People stand behind a police cordon at the main train station in Duesseldorf March 9, 2017. Source: FEDERICO GAMBARINI/AFP/Getty Images
There has been no confirmation on when services will resume.
Deutsche Bahn says the interruption has caused delays and route alterations across the region, which may impact commuters through till tomorrow.
Heavily armed special forces and numerous emergency vehicles surrounded the station following the attack.
Duesseldorf Lord Mayor Thomas Geisel also attended the scene.
It's all went crazy out side my hotel a crazy attack at #Düsseldorf train station not far from me pic.twitter.com/jzKYvs6oPy — Tom (@GeordieTommy_) March 9, 2017
- with AFP
