The incident sparked a major emergency response and a manhunt for the suspect (Picture: AP)

A man has been confirmed dead after a shooting erupted outside a mosque in Örebro,Sweden.

The perpetrator,who is on the run,opened fire during prayers at a mosque in the northern Vivalla district at around 1.45pm local time (12.45pm BST).

Police say the victim was a 25-year-old man shot dead while leaving the mosque. Another man,also in his 20s,was injured.

Several perpetrators were reportedly seen fleeing the scene and are being hunted by the police,according to TV4 news,but this has not been confirmed by the police yet.

Police confirmed that they suspect the incident has links to the criminal underworld,and asked the public to stay away.

The police are unsure how many perpetrators were involved (Picture: Filip Grönroos/TT/Shutterstock)

Many people were inside the building at the time.

A resident told SVT News: ‘At first I thought it was rockets,but no,there were no rockets.’

Another eyewitness said he was just some meters from another man who was shot on his ‘way out of the mosque.’

He told SVT: ‘He was on his way out of the mosque. Then another man came up and fired four,five shots.’

Police said in a statement: ‘We currently have no information about the extent of the damage. We urge the public NOT to approach the scene.’

The force ‘don’t know’ how many perpetrators were involved in the shooting.

Officers are now investigating murder,attempted murder and aggravated weapons offences.

At least two people were injured in the shooting near the Örebro mosque (Picture: Filip Grönroos/TT/Shutterstock)

Mazen Muwaffak,from the Örebro mosque,said two visitors at the site were injured.

He told the Swedish tabloid Expressen: ‘We don’t know if it’s personal or against the mosque,but it’s good that the police are doing their job.’

Örebro,just near the lake Hjälmare,is about 120 miles west of Stockhom,with around 126,000 people living in the city.

For years Sweden has grappled with gang violence,which often recruit teenagers in socially disadvantaged immigrant neighbourhoods.

Local TV news channel TV4 said there has been tension between two rival gangs in Örebro recently.

Metro has approached the mosque for a comment.

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