The hostage situation that unfolded at a Berlin supermarket ended happily on Saturday morning, after an armed man held a cashier hostage for more than 11 hours, following an operation by police special forces.

The incident occurred shortly after 10:00 p.m. local time at a supermarket in the Marienfelde district, in the southern part of the German capital. According to police, the man held a woman hostage inside the store and threatened her.

Large-scale mobilisation of authorities

A large police presence was deployed to the scene, including the elite Special Operations Unit (SEK). The area around the supermarket was cordoned off over a wide radius, with ambulances and fire trucks also present.

In the early morning hours, police officers used a ladder to get a better view inside the building, while specially trained negotiators continued talks with the suspect.

Employees inside the store

At the time of the incident, employees were inside the store; they were evacuated and remain near the scene under the protection of the authorities. According to German media reports, they are expected to give statements to police about what they witnessed during the hostage situation.

The supermarket is located in a quiet residential area of Marienfelde, where there are schools and daycare centres. So far, no further information has been released regarding the perpetrator’s identity or the motives behind the hostage situation.