The Cologne edition of German newspaper "Express" reported on Monday that police received several reports of the attacks earlier that morning.
The incident took place at around 4 a.m. local time (0200 UTC) close to Rudolfplatz, a busy square in Cologne`s city center.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing three or four people quarrelling with another man, before the men set upon each other with axes.
One man who sustained a stab wound to his thigh attempted to flee the scene in his car but the other men shot at him, only hitting the vehicle. The man was stopped by police shortly after and taken to hospital, the "Kölner Stadt Anzeiger" reported.
Two suspects were also detained, whilst two others are believed to still be on the run.
The motive for the attack was not immediately known.
One person injured in Cologne ax and shooting attack
15 August 2016
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Two suspects are on the run following an armed attack in the western German city of Cologne, local media report. One man suffered a stab wound in the incident.
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