Hostages freed after bank robbery in Sinzig, Germany
Police in Germany say two hostages have been freed unharmed after a bank robbery in the western town of Sinzig, while the suspects remain on the run.
Officers entered the bank branch and found no suspects inside.
Police said the perpetrators had left the scene by means that are still unknown.
Earlier, local police said multiple hostages were being held in the bank, including the driver of a cash transport vehicle.
Heavily armed officers surrounded the building during the standoff.
The case matters because it moved from an active hostage situation to a manhunt, with investigators now trying to establish how the suspects escaped and how many people were involved.
Police said there were believed to be several hostage-takers and hostages inside the bank.
It was not immediately known what weapons, if any, the suspects had.
The incident took place in Sinzig, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, with the standoff reported to have started around 9:00am local time on Friday.
