Sinzig (Rhineland-Palatinate) – The SEK stormed the Volksbank branch – and only found two locked hostages. The perpetrators were long gone! After around six hours, the hostage drama in Sinzig ended on a sobering note on Friday afternoon, but with no injuries. The two hostages were released unharmed, and there is no trace of the hostage takers.
The special forces struck at around 2:15 p.m. But in the bank in Sinzig (Rheinland-Pfalz) they no longer found a hostage taker – just two people locked in a room. According to BILD information, it is the driver of a money transporter and a bank employee. The two are now being cared for and questioned, police spokesman Jürgen Fachinger told BILD.
The perpetrators escaped unnoticed
Die Hostage taker had already left the branch earlier. Possibly even shortly after the crime, says Fachinger. The exact time is not known. The police confirmed that there was no contact with the hostages or the perpetrators during the entire operation.
Special forces were on site early on
The Major operation in the city center is thus ended. However, the barriers will remain in place for the time being. Forensics is now taking over the crime scene. A search is underway for the perpetrators, said Fachinger. However, the police no longer believe that they are still in the area.
Automatic alarm triggered large-scale operation
It all started on Friday morning at 9:06 a.m. The emergency call was triggered automatically by the Volksbank branch’s alarm system. A large contingent immediately arrived policeemergency services and fire brigade from the bank. The entire inner city area was cordoned off. Residents within the lockdown were no longer allowed to leave their homes. Special forces from Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia were called to Sinzig.
The inner city area was cordoned off
The police have started the investigation and will comment on further steps later in the day.