A shooting at a high school in northwestern Germany left eight people wounded and the masked gunman dead on Monday, according to police.

Police said the wounded included students, a female teacher and the head caretaker. Police did not yet release details on how the gunman died.

Special police force members walk at the front of a school in Emsdetten, western Germany, on Monday after a masked man stormed the high school and opened fire with a handgun.Special police force members walk at the front of a school in Emsdetten, western Germany, on Monday after a masked man stormed the high school and opened fire with a handgun.
(Frank Augstein/Associated Press)

Police spokesman Josef Brinker said the gunman went into Geschwister Scholl school in Emsdetten, near the Dutch border, at about 9:30 a.m., shortly after morning classes started, and opened fire.

Police cleared the school and ensured all students in the building were taken to safety.

With files from the Associated Press