18 people were injured after a man armed with an axe went on a bloody rampage after storming a train in Germany.

Armed police swarmed the area soon after receiving reports that a man hacked at passengers on board a train close to Wurzburg in southern Germany.

Police have confirmed that 18 people have been injured in the horrifying attack - three of them ate fighting for life.

A 17-year-old Afghan refugee believed to be behind the attack was shot dead by police as he reportedly charged at them following the incident near Würzburg-Heidingsfeld station.

The boy is reported to have shouted "Allahu Akbar" before the attack and investigators believed he had a become 'self-radicalised' Muslim.

This is how the events unfolded.