Hostages in German bank branch released but suspect at large


Police officers secure an area during operations in response to a hostage-taking situation, at a savings bank branch in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in this screengrab obtained from video, May 8, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS

SINZIG, Germany, ⁠May 8 (Reuters) - At least ⁠one suspect is at large ‌after taking hostages and then fleeing the scene at a savings ​bank branch in the ⁠western German ⁠town of Sinzig, police said on ⁠Friday.

The ‌hostages, including one cash transport driver, were ⁠released and unharmed, police added.

While ​the ‌hostage situation was underway earlier ⁠on ​Friday, police said they were working on the assumption that ⁠there were multiple perpetrators.

The ​incident was first reported in the town's centre in the ⁠regional state of Rhineland-Palatinate at 0700 GMT.

Police said they had launched extensive operations and ​had cordoned off ⁠a large area.

(Reporting by Ludwig ​Burger, Erol ‌Dogrudogan and Andreas Kranz; ​writing by Friederike Heine, editing by Matthias Williams)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Swiss to vote on whether to tighten neutrality, end peacetime cooperation with NATO
Harry and Meghan's media storm shows the power and peril of their brand
How a Ukrainian commander sped through the 'kill zone' to save wounded troops
Tanzania's vice president resigns in less than a year
At least 14 infants killed in Islamabad hospital fire
Mamdani opposes NYC event with leader of India's Hindu nationalist group
In win for Trump, Graham secures Republican nomination for US Senate in South Carolina
U.S. stocks close higher on tech gains despite Canadian retaliatory tariffs
Dolly Parton, queen of country music, dies at 80
U.S. stocks close higher

Others Also Read