Six young Italians were shot dead in the western German city of Duisburg early Wednesday, local media reported on Wednesday.

Five bodies were found in two vehicles near the main train station and a sixth man died in an ambulance, police spokesman Hermann-Josef Helmich said.

The victims ranged from 16 to 38 years old and included two brothers.

Some of the dead were found sitting in two cars near the city's main train station and the others were lying nearby. All had suffered shots to the head, according to German news agency DPA.

It was reported that Italian Interior Minister Giuliano Amato said later the killings were part of a feud between mafia families in the Calabria region of southern Italy.