A gunman who took several people hostage in an H&M store in Germany surrendered to police on Tuesday after an hours-long standoff, authorities said.

Several of the freed hostages were treated for shock in the incident at the retail clothing store in the eastern city of Leipzig.

The 41-year-old man, armed with a pistol, gave himself up after police commandos carrying machine guns and dressed in body armour ringed off the shopping area in the city centre.

"We have been told that the person surrendered," Leipzig police spokeswoman Uta Barthel told Reuters Television.

Reuters