German police are trying to work out what drove a teenager to launch an attack on his high school with an axe, knives and molotov cocktails.

Eight students and a teacher were injured, one seriously. The 18-year-old attacker was eventually shot five times by police; he is in a critical condition in hospital. One resident of Ansbach in southern Germany said: “We’re shocked that something like this could happen in our small town.” Another resident said: “I think unfortunately something like this can happen anywhere. It’s not a question of law and security; these are sick people.” Hundreds of students managed to flee during the mayhem, and it is not clear if the teenager sought out particular students. This was the second armed attack on a school this year; 15 people were shot dead by a teenager in the town of Winnenden in March.More about: Attack, Germany

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