Two killed by car in pedestrian zone in German town

At least two people have been killed and several others injured on Tuesday when they were hit by a car in a pedestrian area of the western German city of Trier.

"We have arrested one person, one vehicle has been secured. Two people have died, according to preliminary indications. Please continue to avoid the downtown area," police said on Twitter.

The Trierischer Volksfreund local newspaper quoted an eyewitness as saying a dark grey Range Rover was driving at high speed and people had been thrown through the air.

It said the city centre had been cordoned off and helicopters were circling overhead.

The mayor of Trier had rushed to the scene, and there is to be a news conference shortly, it said.