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A man shot himself after ploughing a van into a crowd of people in Germany leaving three dead and more than 30 injured this afternoon.

The driver was named as 48-year-old Jens Ruther, a German national with no terrorism background and no criminal record.

The graphic designer, who lived and worked in the city, had been treated for mental health problems in 2014 and 2016 and had survived a suicide attempt.

Police searched his home immediately after the attack and later confirmed that they were not looking for any other suspects.

Authorities were initially reported to be treating the incident, which happened in Kiepenkerl, a market square in the western city of Münster, as a terror attack.

It was not confirmed as an act of terror.

(Image: @Pauli_Feger/Twitter)

Three people are believed to be dead, six in critical condition and dozens more injured after the vehicle was driven at high speed towards families dining outside traditional restaurants Grosserer Kiepenkerl and Kleiner Kiepenkerl.

First pictures from the scene showed a busy pedestrianised square with a mass of chairs and tables in disarray moments after the smash.

Families previously enjoying food and sunshine close to the Kiepenkerl statue appeared scattered; tending to victims on the floor and pointing towards the devastation.

One year ago to the day, five people were killed and 14 were injured when a stolen beer truck ploughed into a crowd in Stockholm.

(Image: @hoelleinhimmel/Twitter)

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An eyewitness said: "I heard a loud, thumping blow and suddenly the people cried out 'oh my God'.

"Everyone ran to the front. A minute later there were patrol cars."

Lena, a 21-year-old student, said: "I was traveling with friends by bike when we suddenly came across screaming people.

"They were yelling 'get away, away'. We were scared that a bomb would go off or we would be shot at."

Police cleared the area and part of the old town was sealed off.

"The whole of Münster mourns this terrible event, our sympathy goes out to the relatives of those who were killed, and we wish the injured people fast and speedy recovery," Lord Mayor Markus Lewe said.

The Federal Government has expressed its condolences to the victims and their relatives.

"Terrible news from Münster," wrote deputy government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer on Twitter.

"Our thoughts are with the victims and their relatives."

(Image: REUTERS/)

Federal Minister of Justice Katarina Barley thanked the emergency services.

Police issued a telephone hotline [0049(0)8003040303] for people worried about friends and relatives.

The smash evokes memories of previous vehicle-led terror attacks.

In August 2017, several people were killed and many more injured in a Barcelona van attack.

The vehicle, bearing the logo of a hire firm, was driven into pedestrians on the busy Las Ramblas street, a tourist hotspot.

It was the eighth such attack in Europe so far in 2017.

(Image: Twitter)

Vehicles being driven into crowds is an increasingly common terrorist tactic, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries across the continent over the past 12 months, including some in London.

On June 3 2017, a rented van was driven into pedestrians in the London Bridge area.

The three attackers then got out of the van and began stabbing people, before being shot by police.

A further eight people died and 48 people were injured.

(Image: Twitter)

(Image: REUTERS/)

Today's incident took place in Kiepenkerl. This is the name of a busy square, which is home to a statue with the same name.

The Kiepenkerl shows a travelling merchant and it is a landmark in Münster, which has a population of about 300,000.

Two surrounding traditional restaurants in the square are called Grosserer Kiepenkerl and Kleiner Kiepenkerl.

The square is in the middle of the old town and is surrounded by narrow streets. It is a popular meeting place.

In good weather, many people often sit and stand outdoors, and in winter there is a Christmas village.

* An earlier version of this article incorrectly gave the attacker's name as Jens Handeln. He has been named as Jens Ruther.