A hostage-taking in an antique shop in Berlin-Schoeneberg came to a bloody end early Tuesday morning. Two hostages can be freed, but the alleged hostage-taker is dead, apparently committed suicide.
What exactly happened in the shop? Many questions are still open after the fact.
“Around 5 p.m. there was probably a robbery in the shop. Two masked men broke into the shop,” said a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office. Exactly what happened is still being determined. At least one live firearm was used in the robbery.
According to them, the 80-year-old shopkeeper and his 62-year-old wife were present in the shop. According to the German Press Agency, the shop is on Keithstrasse not far from Wittenbergplatz. Also on Keithstraße is a large location of the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) with homicide squads and other units.
Passers-by called the police, who were already at the scene around 5:10 p.m. on Monday evening, according to the spokeswoman. “One of the two suspects left the shop shortly afterwards and turned himself in to the police. The second suspect stayed in the shop, where the hostage-taking took place.”
The two suspects are 22 and 41 years old. The alleged hostage-taker was the 41-year-old. He repeatedly threatened to kill himself.
In the course of the hostage-taking, the woman was released. She was taken to hospital with minor injuries but has since been released, prosecutors said.
During the operation, the police asked on Twitter not to publish any photos of what was happening at the crime scene: “We urgently ask passers-by, local residents
Access was granted after several hours: at around 2:30 a.m., the SEK stormed the store. The shopkeeper was released unharmed.
The officials found the kidnapper in the shop with a severely bleeding head wound, from which he later died. The injuries point to a suicide, according to prosecutors. An autopsy should bring clarity.
The spokeswoman said it was unclear why the hostage-taking occurred and whether there was a motive for it. This will be investigated. The second 22-year-old suspect is to be brought before a magistrate for attempted aggravated robbery.
Do you have suicidal thoughts? The telephone counseling service offers help. She is anonymous, free and available 24 hours a day on (0800) 1110111 and (0800) 1110222. Advice via email is also possible. A list of nationwide help centers can be found on the website of the German Society for Suicide Prevention.
According to information from the RBB, many residents were unable to go into their apartments for hours because of the large-scale operation and extensive police closures. They were provided with drinks in a hotel.
Other sources: DPA, RBB
