The suspected perpetrator threatened the victim with a stun gun

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The alleged hostage-taker (20) in a pharmacy in Karlsruhe threatened his victims with an empty gun. A police spokesman on Saturday said it was a handgun or revolver that could not be used to cause fatal injuries. According to current knowledge, the suspect committed the crime alone in the inner city the night before. The initial suspicion that the man might have an accomplice was not confirmed: “The 20-year-old acted alone.” Of the eleven hostages at the beginning, nine were able to hide in the building relatively quickly. Two people subsequently came under the influence of the suspect.

The suspect was due to appear before a magistrate on Saturday. The police put together an investigation team with ten officers. The 20-year-old, known to the police, held the hostages in his power for almost five hours. In the end, access was granted by special forces. All hostages and the perpetrator were physically unharmed.

The Minister of the Interior thanks emergency services

According to the Ministry of the Interior, 350 troops were involved in the hostage-taking – in addition to police officers from the Karlsruhe police headquarters, a negotiating group from the Mannheim police headquarters, an advisory group from the criminal investigation department and special units from the police headquarters. “I wish the people who were in the power of the hostage-taker for hours that they do not suffer any psychological consequences and can quickly process what happened,” said a spokeswoman for Interior Minister Thomas Strobl, 62. Strobl thanked the emergency services for their wise efforts, which prevented worse things.

For reasons of investigative tactics, the police have so far not provided any information about possible demands from the hostage-taker, such as ransom. A spokesperson could not initially say whether the hostages were customers and employees of the pharmacy.

The pharmacy could not be reached by telephone the day after the crime. However, according to a dpa reporter’s observations, customers could pick up medication orders from a side door. The main entrance was boarded up. Photos showed broken glass on the floor of the store.

The suspect was known to the police

The crime began around 4:30 p.m. Friday. Police spokesman Dennis Kohl said several emergency calls had come in from the pharmacy and just two minutes later the first police officers arrived on the scene. Officials cordoned off the area. Subsequently, negotiations were attempted with the hostage-taker. After nearly five hours, at around 9:10 p.m., special forces stormed the pharmacy and ended the kidnapping.

The alleged perpetrator was overpowered and arrested. The German suspect was no stranger to the police: Kohl said he had been spotted in the past for violent and property crimes, among other things.

After the rescue, the hostages were immediately offered help and an emergency pastor was also present. Kohl emphasized: “You can only imagine how it is for the people who were in this exceptional situation for several hours.” (SDA)

Source: Blick