Shooting breaks out at Munich shopping mall

Photo taken by a mobile device shows police standing guard near the site of the shootout in Munich, Germany, on July 22, 2016. At least six people were killed in a shootout in the German city of Munich on Friday evening, German local media Focus Online reported. [Photo: Xinhua/Zhu Sheng]

The number of the people died in a shootout in a Munich's shopping mall rose to 10, confirms the Munich police early Saturday.

At least 20 were injured with three in critical condition, the police said.

At the same time, the Munich police announced on its Twitter account: "We found a man who killed himself. We assume, that he was the only shooter."

The body of the gunman were found near the shopping center.

The suspect was a 18-year-old Iranian who lived in Munich, the police told the press, but his motive is unclear at this point.

The police called the shootout as an "acute terror situation" in Munich, as German news television N-TV reported earlier, citing an official announcement of Munich police.

Due to the still unclear situation, the police asked all people in Munich's urban area to stay at home or to search protection in nearby buildings.

The operation of the public transport system in Munich is currently suspended, according to the press release.

Munich police reported earlier that they were carrying out a large-scale operation in a Munich shopping center due to a shootout.

German President Joachim Gauck and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier have expressed their dismay after the shooting attack in Munich with at least nine being killed on Friday night.

"The murderous attack in Munich shocked me deeply," Gauck was quoted as saying in a press release of the Presidential Office.

His thoughts are with the victims and all those who were mourning or fearing for a loved one, it said. "And I feel connected with all that are in operation in order to protect people and save lives."

Meanwhile, Steimeiner also said on his twitter account that he is horrified by the attack.

"I am thinking of people in Munich. It's good to know that our friends in Europe and the world stood by us," as he wrote.

"Our thoughts are with the victims of the attack, and even with the police officers who are defending our freedom and security," also said Peter Altmaier, head of German Federal Chancellery, to German ZDF public television on Friday night over the attack in Munich.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is on holiday since Friday, is kept informed, Altmaier said, adding that competent ministers are on the way to Berlin. "We will discuss the situation tomorrow in the German federal security cabinet."