Reports of vehicle driving into crowd in German town of Munster

A van has rammed into crowds of pedestrians in the western German city of Munster killing several people and leaving dozens injured. The driver is believed to have killed himself in the seconds after the incident which police officials have suggested could have been a terror attack.

The incident has drawn immediate comparisons with the December 2016 truck attack in Berlin that killed 12 people.

Police said a large-scale operation was underway with all available emergency resources called to Munster.

Part of the medieval old town has been placed on lockdown as police, firefighters, rescue and emergency vehicles swarm to the scene.

According to the vehicle, described by some witnesses as small truck, rammed into crowds of people who were sitting near the Kiepenkerl statue in the old town.