A man allegedly took a woman hostage at a supermarket in the German capital Berlin, prompting a major police operation, officials said Saturday.
Police said the operation began at around 10pm on Friday after officers were called to the Rewe supermarket in the Marienfelde district on the southern outskirts of Berlin.
The suspect was later captured by police and the hostage was released after an 11-hour standoff.
What do we know about the hostage situation in Berlin?
A 22-year-old supermarket employee told German news agency dpa that the man brandished a “very large” knife shortly before the market closed on Friday evening.
Snipers were deployed as part of the police operationImage: Carsten Coall/dpa/picture Alliance
A male employee ran out of the supermarket with a colleague and contacted the police.
The employee said the hostage also worked at the supermarket and “just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Police, who have not yet given a motive, have not confirmed reports that the supermarket manager saw a weapon or whether the woman or the hostage taker suffered any injuries.
Footage posted on social media showed armed police in riot gear standing at the entrance to the supermarket.
Spectators gathered nearby, and several police and ambulances were visible on the cordoned off street.
One video shows a police officer climbing a ladder leaning against the side of a building and looking inside the supermarket.
The streets around the scene were cordoned offImage: Carsten Coall/dpa/picture Alliance
Editor: Carl Sexton
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