TWO people have been killed and 20 injured after a van crashed into a crowd in front of a bar in the German city of Münster, which is one of York's twin towns.

Police urged residents to "avoid the area near the Kiepenkerl pub", where a large-scale police operation is under way.

Kiepenkerl is a popular bar in the city's historic downtown area.

Police spokesman Andreas Bode told reporters the driver shot himself dead inside the van after the crash.

He said the driver's identity was not yet known.

Police said it was too early to speculate about the motive behind the crash and said they are still investigating.

They said a suspicious object has been found in the van and that they are still examining what kind of an object it is and whether it is dangerous.

York has been twinned with the city of Münster, in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, since 1957.

There have been hundreds of exchange visits between the two cities, including civic party visits, school exchanges, choirs, rotary clubs, sports teams and artists.

Münster is a major university city and has about 300,000 residents.

A City of York Council spokesman said people's thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the incident.