Luebeck, Germany  - A woman, 33, her son, 7, and a 6-year-old boy staying with them overnight were killed early Sunday in a house fire in the German port city of Luebeck, police said.

Firefighters managed to bring all three alive out of the downtown building, but they died of their injuries. They were the only occupants of the building, which comprised a shop at street level and residential accommodation above.

Police said they were seeking the cause of the fire, which neighbours said had begun with a loud bang just after midnight. dpa