AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE HURT

BERLIN, OCTOBER 27 /SRNA/ - At least four people were injured when a car drove into a group of people in Neustadt am Rubenberge, northwest of Hanover, according to police, who opened fire on the vehicle.

Some of the injured are in serious condition and were taken to hospital, but none are in life-threatening danger, Germany's DPA news agency reported.

The suspect left the vehicle and fled on foot.

"Preliminary findings indicate that those involved in the incident knew each other and that the people in the group were the target of a deliberate attack, rather than a random one," the police statement said.

The circumstances of the incident, which happened late last night, are not yet fully known.

Several vehicles were damaged and bear visible bullet marks.