Munich shooting: Policewoman shot in head as two bystanders also injured

The shooting happened during a morning police check at the Unterfoehring subway station in a northeastern suburb - EPA
The shooting happened during a morning police check at the Unterfoehring subway station in a northeastern suburb - EPA

A policewoman was shot in the head by a man who grabbed her gun and opened fire, also injuring bystanders, at a commuter station in a Munich suburb.

Officers had been called to the Unterfoehring subway station following reports of a row among passengers on a train.

When officers arrived at the S-Bahn station in the northeastern suburb of the Bavarian city on Tuesday morning, a man attempted to push them onto the tracks.

Munich police spokesman Marcus da Gloria Martins said the attacker then managed to grab the female officer's service pistol and fired several shots before he was shot himself and taken into custody.

The officer was described as being in a life-threatening condition, while the two bystanders shot suffered less serious injuries. The suspect was seriously injured by gunfire, German police said.

"There was one suspect and we've got him," da Gloria Martins told reporters at the scene.

 Armed German policemen secure the scene  - Credit: MARC MUELLER/EPA
Armed German policemen secure the scene on Tuesday morning Credit: MARC MUELLER/EPA
The station is popular with commuters heading to the Bavarian city - Credit: MARC MUELLER/EPA
The station is popular with commuters heading to the Bavarian city Credit: MARC MUELLER/EPA
A police officer secures the area around a commuter rail station in Unterfoehring near Munich - Credit: CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP
A police officer at a cordon around the station in Unterfoehring Credit: CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP

Authorities do not believe the incident was terrorism-related.

Police later said there had been "no political or religious motive" in the shooting, saying the attacker acted out of "personal" reasons.

"The sole male perpetrator was motivated by personal reasons. There is no political or religious background here," da Gloria Martins told reporters.

The incident happened in the Unterfoehring area of Munich

Force spokesman Michael Riehlein said the area has been "secured" and that there was no danger to the wider public.

Munich police said in a tweet: "Several people were injured by shots. A female police officer was badly wounded."