The man allegedly barricaded himself inside a town hall office alongside two staff members before he covered himself in ‘flammable liquid’ – this is a breaking story
The incident took place in the northwest of Germany(Image: Getty Images)
A man has held two people hostage and doused himself in gasoline inside a town hall in Germany.
The perpetrator entered the building in Lengerich before barricading himself inside an office alongside two members of staff. He then started pouring “flammable liquid” on himself and brandished a lighter.
An evacuation was triggered and a major operation was launched, with multiple streets closed off. Officers have confirmed the suspect was overpowered by specialist police units and both hostages were unharmed following the incident on Tuesday afternoon (June 23).
The perpetrator reportedly required medical treatment after sustaining “minor injuries from the flammable liquid”. The suspect has been identified by officers as a 47-year-old Romanian national.
Polizei Münster, the local force, released a statement saying: “A 47-year-old suspect was arrested on Tuesday (June 23, 12:45 p.m.) after he doused himself with a suspected flammable liquid and took two men hostage. The circumstances surrounding the incident are part of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Münster police.
“To avert potential danger, police responded with a large contingent and cordoned off the town hall and surrounding streets. The 47-year-old had barricaded himself in an office at the town hall with two employees of the city of Lengerich.
“He then doused himself with the flammable liquid and, according to initial findings, was carrying a lighter. Special police units were able to subdue the suspect and arrest the 47-year-old Romanian national, who is known to police.
“He sustained minor injuries from the flammable liquid and was taken to a hospital by paramedics. The two employees were unharmed. Firefighters and police officers provided support to those present. The road closures have now been lifted.”
