Gunfire rang out on Thursday at a popular location in central Frankfurt, leaving at least two people critically wounded and a third with light injuries, according to police at the scene.

The unknown attackers fired at least four or five shots from inside their car. The incident took place near Friedrich-Stoltze Square, a busy area filled with people who were enjoying the Ascension Day holiday.

"I thought it was a terrorist attack," a young woman at the scene told the dpa news agency.

Police, however, were quick to dismiss the incident as terrorism. A motive for the attack is unclear, and police are still searching for the perpetrators.

Police have cordoned off a large section of the area near the crime scene.

blc/cmk (dpa)