Set fire from balcony

Hamburg: Man set father on fire – shot dead

A dramatic operation for the Hamburg police on Friday night: after a suspect, who had allegedly set his father on fire, shot at the officers from his balcony, special forces called in returned fire. The man died at the scene.

As a police spokesperson said on Friday morning, the officers had been alerted shortly before midnight by local residents "due to a male person displaying unusual behavior".

At the same time, however, the fire department was also called in to treat a man, who was believed to be the father of the shooter, with severe burns. Apparently, the son had set fire to his father while he was sleeping, as reported by the newspaper "Bild". The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Fire opened on police officers
Meanwhile, the suspect barricaded himself in his apartment. When the emergency services arrived, the man is said to have suddenly fired at the police officers from his balcony. Reinforcements were then called in from a team from the Special Operations Command (SEK).

According to the police, the man then also fired at the SEK. The task force returned fire. The attacker succumbed to his injuries at the scene, according to the spokesperson.

Homicide squad investigating
The background to the incident in the Rahlstedt district is still unclear. Further details about the man and the father's state of health have not yet been released. A homicide squad has been called in.