At least two girls have been seriously injured in a suspected attack at a high school in the Bavarian town of Schongau, police said.

The girls were taken to hospital. Police said it was initially unclear whether their injuries were life-threatening.

Authorities had earlier said several people were injured at the Welfen-Gymnasium in what appeared to be a rampage attack. 

Teenage suspect carried knives, firearm

The suspect, a 16-year-old, initially fled but was apprehended a short time later. A police helicopter was used in the search.

Speaking near the scene of the incident, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the suspect was "a former pupil at the school" who had possibly been suffering "mental health emergency."

The suspect had been carrying knives and a firearm, Dobrindt said. When the firearm malfunctioned, he used a knife to injure two schoolgirls.

"The teachers and the police officers who had by then arrived on the scene were able to overpower the suspect," Dobrindt added.

The total number of people injured and the severity of their injuries remained unclear. Police initially spoke of a single-digit number of injured people.

Authorities said the suspect was a citizen of another European Union country.

Rescue helicopters deployed

Police had previously announced that a large number of officers were deployed at the school.

Officers did not initially comment on the reason for the deployment, although people in the area were urged to avoid the site. A contact point for relatives and parents of students was set up at the fire station.

Emergency services, including multiple rescue helicopters, at the scene in the wake of the incident. ADAC Air Rescue said six helicopters were involved, four of them from ADAC, with at least one used to treat the injured.