German knife attack: Three dead and five wounded in W眉rzburg

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Authorities say no motive has yet been established for the attack

A man wielding a knife in the German city of W眉rzburg has killed three people and injured several others, according to local authorities.

Videos on social media showed the man armed with a large knife being confronted and subdued by passers-by.

The suspect, a Somali man aged 24, was shot in the thigh before being arrested.

Police said he had been violent and mentally unstable and had recently received psychiatric treatment

Police were alerted to the attack at around 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT), in the city centre's Barbarossa Square.

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told reporters that, of those who were injured, five were in serious condition and it was "not certain" if they would survive.

The suspect is being questioned at a local hospital.

Officers are also searching his home and investigating his contacts for further evidence.

A witness reported that the suspect shouted "Allah Akbar" during the attack, said Mr Herrmann.

But a police spokesman said that, while the attacker had a criminal record, none of his previous offences were related to terrorism.