German police investigate possible hostage crisis at Karlsruhe pharmacy

FRANKFURT – German police said Friday they had been mobilized for a suspected hostage in the western German city of Karlsruhe.

The case continues on Thursday A deadly rampage in a hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg.

Karlsruhe police have closed an area in the city center due to an unknown degree of danger, police said on Twitter.

A spokesman reached out by phone but did not specify the number of hostages or the duration of the operation.

German newspaper Bild reported that the situation began around 4:30 pm local time and that police were in contact with the alleged hostage-takers.

Karlsruhe, not far from the French border, is a city of about 300,000 people and home to Germany’s highest court, the Federal Court.

Police urged residents to avoid the area and said those unable to return home could seek shelter at a nearby school.Reuters