THE HAGUE - Several people were killed and a number of others injured in a shooting spree at a shopping mall in a town close to Amsterdam on Saturday, local media reported.

Earlier reports said two were killed at the Ridderhof mall in Alphen aan den Rijn town, some 20 km southwest of Amsterdam, but city authorities said later that "several" were dead.

Meanwhile, there are reports saying that the gunman also ended his own life after the killing.

Witnesses said the attacker was seen with a machine gun when he opened fire.

The reason of the shooting is currently unknown.