For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Berlin police say there is an ongoing police operation in the city centre after an individual opened fire in a shop in a suspected robbery.
According to local newspaper Berliner Kurier , the busy intersection between Friedrichstrasse and Kochstrasse, near Checkpoint Charlie , has been cordoned off.
Armed policemen are reportedly keeping watch on surrounding houses and there is no ambulance at the scene.
Police said in a tweet that they have the situation under control.
German broadcaster Rbb cited a police spokesman as saying the shots were likely related to a robbery attempt at a cafe.
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photosShow all 20 1 /20Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos A berliner holds up a hammer and a chisel early on 15 November 1989 in front of the wall at the Brandebourg Gate
AFP/Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos East and West German Police contain the crowd of East Berliners flowing through the recent opening made in the Berlin wall at Potsdamer Square
AFP/Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos An East German border policemen, right, refuse to shake hands with a Berliner who stretches out his hand over the border fence at the eastern site nearby Checkpoint Charlie border crossing point
AP
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos East German citizens climb the Berlin wall at the Brandenburg Gate as they celebrate the opening of the East German border
Reuters
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos A little girl chisels away at the Berlin Wall from the east side on New Year's Eve, 31 December 1989
Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos Woman holds up pieces of the Berlin Wall she found when the latest passage was opened at Wollankstrasse in West Berlin's district of Wedding
AP
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos West Berliners crowd in front of the Berlin Wall early 11 November 1989 as they watch East German border guards demolishing a section of the wall in order to open a new crossing point between East and West Berlin
AFP/Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos A West Berliner welcomes a East Berliner as she pours Champagne onto his car at Wollangstrasse where a new crossing point into the West has opened
AFP/Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos A construction worker builds part of the wall. At the time it was put up, many people were afraid that the wall would serve as a provocation and turn to the Cold War into a hot one
AP
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos West Berlin children play at 'constructing the Berlin wall' with make believe arms and imitating East and West Berlin wall security guards. Meanwhile, further construction was happening on the other side of the divide: in the same year, a second parallel barrier was built in the east of the city and the houses between the two structures razed to the ground, creating an exposed wasteland area that was known as the 'death strip'
Rex
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos David Hasselhoff performs by the Berlin Wall on New Year's Eve 1990
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos Curious West Berliners peep over the stone and barbed wire barrier blocking off East Berlin from West. The first person to be shot dead for trying to cross, Gunter Liftin, had a flat in the West but had been visiting his mother in the East when the wall suddenly went up
Rex
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos An East German bulldozer and crane knock down the Berlin Wall at Potsdamer Platz
Reuters
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos People from East Germany greet citizens of West Germany at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
AFP/Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos A young boy is trying to show his talent by drawing on the East side of the Berlin Wall
AFP/Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos A group of East German police officers look on as workers continue to demolish a section of the Berlin Wall
AFP/Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos An East Berliner with West german flag and flowers enters West berlin amidst a crowd of East germans flooding through the recently made opening in the Berlin wall at Potsdamer Square
AFP/Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos Thousands of young East Berliners crowd atop the Berlin Wall, near the Brandenburg Gate on 11 November 1989
AFP/Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos West-Berliner citizens sit on the Berlin wall as East-German policemen stand guard on November 10, 1989 to ask for the fall of the Berlin wall
AFP/Getty
Berlin Wall anniversary – in photos East-Berliner citizens are welcomed by the crowd as they enter West-Berlin by car at the Checkpoint Charlie on 9 November 1989
AFP/Getty
The area is popular among tourists, as Checkpoint Charlie was the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point during the Cold War . It is also close to multiple museums, galleries, and bars.
Additional reporting by agencies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies