A hostage-taking in Karlsruhe triggered a large-scale police operation.
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In a pharmacy in downtown Karlsruhe, a hostage-taker took several people into his power, the police write. The crime is still going on – a high ransom is allegedly being demanded.
IIn Karlsruhe, the police are in a large-scale operation because of a hostage-taking. This was confirmed by the FAZ police. The crime is still ongoing, a spokesman said on Friday evening. Several hostages were taken in a pharmacy. You should be unharmed. The perpetrator entrenched himself in the building. The police did not give the exact background for tactical reasons.
The “Stuttgarter Nachrichten” reported that it was an “unknown perpetrator” who had taken two people hostage and demanded a single-digit million amount as ransom for their release. Accordingly, the police are in contact with the man. However, the police could not confirm this to the FAZ.
According to information from the newspaper “Badische Latest News”, the police were notified at around 4:45 p.m., and the hostage-taking apparently began at around 4:30 p.m. The call must have come directly from the pharmacy. In the meantime, 15 ambulances and emergency vehicles from the fire brigade are on site. Special forces are also at the scene. The police had previously said that the large-scale operation was still “growing”.
The pharmacy is located on Ettlinger Strasse in the city centre. The affected area near the fairground was cordoned off over a large area, writes the police. The population was asked to avoid staying in the operation room. There is no danger to the population, said police spokesman Kai Lampe. Major events on the fairground were canceled for the evening.