SWAT team storms German bank after two taken hostage in locked vault

Police said they were alerted to the situation at around 9am at the Volksbank branch in Sinzig, in the Rhine Valley near Koblenz.

The small town of about 17,000 residents was put on lockdown as special police tried to determine how many hostages were being held.

Shortly before 3 p.m., seven members of the SWAT team stormed the bank, where they freed two unharmed hostages from a locked safe.

One of them is said to be the driver of an armored vehicle that was ambushed.

“We are relieved that the hostages have been released. They are deeply affected by what happened,” said Koblenz police spokesman Jürgen Fachinger.

The police did not find any hostage takers in the bank and suspect that the perpetrator(s) left immediately after locking the people in the safe.

Police cannot say whether cash or valuables were stolen.

The Volksbank branch is now a crime scene as detectives investigate how the hostage takers escaped without notice.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Be the first to receive your latest news and exclusive stories by following us on all platforms.