World

Hostages in German bank branch released but suspect at large

By Reuters Reuters

Updated May 8, 2026 8:01 AM

A member of the forensics enters the savings bank branch, in a cordoned off area, amid a response to a hostage-taking situation, after at least one suspect is at large after fleeing the scene, according to police reports, in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen — A member of the forensics enters the savings bank branch, in a cordoned off area, amid a response to a hostage-taking situation, after at least one suspect is at large after fleeing the scene, according to police reports, in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen Thilo Schmuelgen Reuters

Members of the forensics enter the savings bank branch amid response to a hostage-taking situation, after at least one suspect is at large after fleeing the scene, according to police reports, in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen — Members of the forensics enter the savings bank branch amid response to a hostage-taking situation, after at least one suspect is at large after fleeing the scene, according to police reports, in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen Thilo Schmuelgen Reuters

Police officers secure an area during operations in response to a hostage-taking situation, at a savings bank branch in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in this screengrab obtained from video, May 8, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS — Police officers secure an area during operations in response to a hostage-taking situation, at a savings bank branch in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in this screengrab obtained from video, May 8, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS Reuters TV Reuters

Police officers stand guard next to a police vehicle, during operations in response to a hostage-taking situation, at a savings bank branch in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in this screengrab obtained from video, May 8, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS — Police officers stand guard next to a police vehicle, during operations in response to a hostage-taking situation, at a savings bank branch in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in this screengrab obtained from video, May 8, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS Reuters TV Reuters

Emergency responders work during operations in response to a hostage-taking situation, at a savings bank branch in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in this screengrab obtained from video, May 8, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS — Emergency responders work during operations in response to a hostage-taking situation, at a savings bank branch in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in this screengrab obtained from video, May 8, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS Reuters TV Reuters

Member of the German special police forces prepares during operations in response to a hostage-taking situation, at a savings bank branch in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen — Member of the German special police forces prepares during operations in response to a hostage-taking situation, at a savings bank branch in the western town of Sinzig, near Bonn, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen Thilo Schmuelgen Reuters

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SINZIG, Germany, May 8 (Reuters) - At least one suspect is at large after taking hostages and then fleeing the scene at a savings bank branch in the western German town of Sinzig, police said on Friday.

The hostages, including one cash transport driver, were released and unharmed, police added.

While the hostage situation was underway earlier on Friday, police said they were working on the assumption that there were multiple perpetrators.

The incident was first reported in the town's centre in the regional state of Rhineland-Palatinate at 0700 GMT.

Police said they had launched extensive operations and had cordoned off a large area.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger, Erol Dogrudogan and Andreas Kranz; writing by Friederike Heine, editing by Matthias Williams)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 7:37 AM.