In a shootout in the center of the northwest German town of Espelkamp, two persons — a man and a woman – were murdered by the killer, the Bild daily says.

The journal described the authorities as adding that the scene seemed like someone running amok, with the shooter still in the open.

DW notes, however, that the shootings are no longer part of the bigger murder cycle.

The western state of North-Rhine Westphalia, around 370 km west of the capital Berlin is the town of Espelkamp with some 20,000 residents.

One of the two was slain in a residence, while the other was killed in front of the house, police said an initial investigation did not show any signs of a terrorist attack.

"It appears to be a crime, as things stand, instead of terror," stated the police officer.

The assassin is still open.

The relationship between the victims and the perpetrator isn't known.

Radio Westfalica claimed that the police had reported two different places of crime.

Police believe the guilty is on the run in the city.