Major operation in Aachen

Hostage-taking in German hospital

(Bild: Screenshot Glomex)

A suspected hostage situation kept police forces in the German city of Aachen on their toes for hours. A 65-year-old woman had set off a firework and shortly afterwards barricaded herself in a room at the Luisenhospital. At around 11 p.m., members of the special task force were able to overpower the woman.

The woman was wheeled out on a stretcher, covered with a warming sheet, as reported by a dpa reporter. The fire department had been informed of a fire in the hospital at around 5pm. Speculation about a hostage situation was not confirmed by the emergency services. It was also unclear whether the person had been alone in the room or had threatened other people.

Hours after special forces arrived late Monday afternoon, blue flashes from police cars were still flashing through the black night sky. Numerous firefighters were also on the scene.

The Aachen police arrived with heavy equipment.(Bild: Screenshot Glomex)

"There will be road closures and restrictions on rail traffic. Avoid the area as far as possible," warned the police via X (formerly Twitter). According to German media, a police helicopter was circling over the site. 

Hospital operations continued
Behind the wrought-iron grille of the hospital, however, operations seemed to continue at least in part in the evening, as a dpa reporter observed on site. Lights were still burning in some of the hospital windows. Staff in white coats scurried across the hospital parking lot. Many observers wondered why the unclear situation behind the hospital walls dragged on for so many hours without the situation being resolved.