The standoff at Hamburg airport in Germany has entered its 12th hour, causing ongoing traffic restrictions and hostage negotiations. The Hamburg police provided an update stating that the situation is still active and traffic measures around the airport remain in place, with entry still prohibited. The negotiations with the hostage-taker are continuing.
The incident began at around 2 am (IST) when a gunman forcefully drove his car through the security gates of the airport. He fired two shots into the air and threw two lit bottles out of the vehicle. The police have identified two individuals in the car, a 35-year-old man and a 4-year-old girl. The car was parked underneath a plane, heightening the urgency of the situation.
Authorities suspect that the hostage situation is related to a custody battle, as the girl’s mother had informed the police about the father’s recent contact with her. The wife of the driver alerted the police by making an emergency call to report the abduction of their child.
As a safety measure, a Turkish Airlines plane and other aircraft have been evacuated. The terminal buildings have been cleared, causing disruption for over 3,000 passengers. More than 60 flights have been canceled due to the ongoing standoff.
The Hamburg police have deployed a significant number of emergency services personnel to the airport. They have psychologists and negotiators on-site who are actively engaged in communication with the individual in the vehicle.
Updates on the situation have been provided by the police via their official Twitter account. The latest information indicates that negotiations are ongoing and that the operational conditions around the airport remain unchanged.
This article includes information from AFP and Reuters.
