The hostage taker from Münsterplatz in Ulm had deceptively real soft-air weapons with him. Police discovered additional weapons in a bag and in a car, including knives, axes and a machete.
The background to the hostage-taking on Friday evening and the motive of the 44-year-old German suspect are still unclear, according to a statement from the police and public prosecutor’s office on Saturday.
On January 26th, the man took control of six people in a bar over a long period of time at gunpoint. He let five go and was left with one hostage. Emergency services ended the hostage-taking when the perpetrator left the restaurant with the remaining hostage – they shot the man and seriously injured him, the hostage was uninjured. The perpetrator was taken to hospital and underwent surgery.
“The investigating authorities are currently checking with the treating doctors whether the accused is fit for questioning so that he can be brought before the responsible magistrate,” it said.