The shooting that killed eight people in the town of Hanau could be linked to terrorism and many of the victims were immigrants, according to German officials.

"Federal prosecutors suspect the shooting in the town of Hanau is linked to terrorism. The 43-year-old suspect is extremely rightist and anti-xenophobic, he was found dead with his mother. 72 years old at home. Both have gunshot wounds, "said Peter Beuth, head of the Hesse state affairs agency, today.

The identity of the shooter has not been released, but town officials say the suspect has a licensed weapon and is a sports shooter. Local media revealed many victims were Kurdish immigrants.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said "there are many" signs of an arsonist with racial motives and hatred toward foreigners.

The shooting occurred at 22h on 19/2 (4am 20/2 Hanoi time) when the suspect fired several bullets into two bars in the town of Hanau, western Germany and then fled by car. 3 people died in the first bar, the victims were in the second bar.

Hanau is a large town with a population of nearly 100,000, located in the state of Hesse, western Germany and about 25 km east of Frankfurt.

Germany does not prohibit the possession of firearms, but the trade is strictly controlled and people must have a license to own weapons. The country has also recently suffered from extreme attacks, including the Christmas market attack in central Berlin in December 2016 that killed 12 people.