People were told to avoid the area around Karolinenplatz and neighbouring Briennerstrasse and those in nearby residential or office buildings were urged to stay inside. A police helicopter circled over the area immediately afterwards.

Police said they were working to “clarify” the situation and warned against speculation.

Munich’s documentation centre for the history of National Socialism opened nine years ago on the site of the former Nazi party’s headquarters or “Brown House”.

After the shooting, police decided to raise security at Munich’s main synagogue, according to local reports.

The incident took place 52 years to the day after the 1972 attack on Israeli athletes by gunmen from Palestinian militant group Black September.

Eleven athletes and a police officer were killed in the hostage ordeal.