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Armed robbers have stormed a luxury hotel in central Berlin where a poker tournament was taking place, German police say.

One report said the gang - armed with assault rifles and hand grenades - made off with the tournament jackpot of 800,000 euros ($1.1m; £726,000).

Several people were injured in the ensuing panic, although none of them seriously.

About 1,000 poker players are taking part in the five-day tournament.

"Several masked, armed individuals entered the Grand Hyatt Hotel and fled with a haul of money," police spokeswoman Heidi Vogt said.

She declined to say how much had been taken but Berlin's Tageszeitung newspaper reported on its website that the gang had taken 800,000 euros.

'Panic'

Participant Tobias Reinkemeier said there was panic when the robbers broke in.

There was panic at the Grand Hyatt Hotel when the gang burst in

"They screamed 'armed robbery'," he said.

"We didn't know what was going on. Then there was panic and everyone jumped underneath tables before they tried to escape through the emergency exit."

The attack happened at about 1430 local time (1330GMT).

Four robbers entered from Potsdamer Platz while two others kept watch, Tageszeitung reported.

Images of the chaotic scenes were broadcast by the private n-tv television station.

Officials said most of the injuries were caused by panic.

The tournament - organised by the European Poker Tour (EPT) - resumed about four hours after the attack, German media reported.