Two people were critically injured in a rampant shooting in the city of Bottrop in western Germany on Thursday.

The incident took place around 18:00 local time (GMT 1700) in front of Albrecht-Durer Primary School in Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia State, local media reported.

Several gunshots were heard, witnesses said.

The victims were reportedly two brothers aged between 24 and 25.

Police suspected there were two perpetrators. A massive manhunt has been launched for the criminals who had escaped the site. Their motivation for the shooting remained unknown.

The scene of the crime, located in a residential area, was cordoned off.

Local newspaper reported one of the suspected shooters drove a dark Volkswagen Golf to flee the site.