Four people, probably including a gunman, were killed during a hostage-taking incident at a house in southern Germany on Wednesday, a police spokesman said.

Police officers stand in front of a house after a hostage-taking incident in Karlsruhe July 4, 2012. Four people, probably including a gunman, were killed during the hostage-taking incident at a house in southern Germany on Wednesday, a police spokesman said. [Photo/Agencies]

Earlier, police said the gunman had taken up to four people hostage following an attempted eviction of an apartment in the town of Karlsruhe.

"Special forces broke into the apartment after smelling smoke and found four dead bodies. Probably one of them is the gunman," the spokesman told Reuters.

He declined to comment on German media reports that the hostages included a bailiff and two other people who had accompanied him to the building, one of whom may have been a locksmith.

"My colleagues are investigating exactly what happened," the spokesman said.

Police had sealed off the area around the building, in northern Karlsruhe, after shots were heard.

The police were due to hold a news conference on the incident later on Wednesday.