1 dead, 2 injured in Berlin drive-by shooting

A man was killed and two others were injured in a drive-by shooting in Berlin in the early hours of Thursday, according to police, reported dpa.

The shooting occurred at around 1 am (2300 GMT Wednesday) in the district of Schöneberg, prompting a major response from emergency services.

A 42-year-old man was shot by unknown assailants in a car. The man could not be resuscitated at the scene and was declared dead in an ambulance on the way to hospital.

The public prosecutor's office said the suspected perpetrators are on the run. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.

One of the man's companions and an unrelated bystander were also struck by gunfire.

The two injured men, aged 42 and 44, were taken to hospital and underwent surgery.

Authorities did not confirm media reports that the injured bystander had been travelling on a bicycle.

A large crowd formed during the night around the crime scene, located in a red-light area in south-western Berlin.

Roads near the scene were still closed to traffic on Thursday morning due to the police operation.