At least two people were killed in an apparent act of jealousy in the center of the western German town of Espelkamp, while the perpetrator of the crime is still on the run, local media cited police as saying on Thursday.

After the killing of a woman and a man, heavily armed special police units were deployed throughout the town.

Based on initial information, one person was shot in a house and the other in front of it.

The suspect is still on the run, according to police, he is probably armed.

Police initially suspected an ambush, but they now believe it was motivated by jealousy.

The crime scene is in downtown Espelkamp, a 25,000-person city in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.