MUNICH - The identities of some victims in a shooting attack in Munich on Friday (July 22) night are emerging as German authorities search for a motive behind the rampage at a shopping mall.

The 18-year-old assailant shot dead nine people at a shopping mall in the north of the city before turning the gun on himself after a siege lasting several hours into the early hours of Saturday morning.

The attacker opened fire at a McDonald's restaurant and continued along the street before entering the mall.

Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae said there were young people among the nine dead and that some of the 16 injured were children.

Kosovan media reported that three of the victims were of Kosovan origin.

Mr Naim Zabergja, the father of one of the victims, wrote on Facebook: "With great sadness I want to inform you that my son Dijamant Zabergja, 21, was killed yesterday in Munich."

Mr Zabergja visited the spot where his son was killed on Saturday morning, holding flowers and a photo of his son.