AT least eight people were killed in two shootings late yesterday near the German city of Frankfurt, with an unknown number of attackers still at large, said police.

The shootings targeted shisha bars in Hanau, about 20km from Frankfurt, according to local media, and police have launched a huge manhunt in the town of some 90,000 people.

The first attack occurred at a bar in the centre of Hanau about 10pm (2100 GMT), said police and reports.

Witnesses reported hearing a dozen shots.

The attacker or attackers then fled the scene by car, according to police.

There was then a second shooting.

Local reports said three people were killed in front of the first bar, and five in front of the second.

Germany has been targeted in recent years by extremist attacks, one of which killed 12 people in the heart of Berlin in December 2016. – AFP, February 20, 2020.