German hospital ‘under siege’ by police carrying machine guns as ‘armed’ man takes hostages and woman ‘fires pyrotechnics’

German police have been called to a hospital near the border with Belgium with reports of a woman having “ignited pyrotechnics.”

There are reports from German news outlet Bild of heavily armed police with helmets, protective vests and submachine guns at the Luisenhospital in Aachen.

A police spokesman told German news outlet, T Online: “There are indications that this is a possible threatening situation and people should avoid the area.

“There will be road closures and restrictions on rail traffic. Avoid the area as much as possible.”

German news outlet Bild reports that a woman is said to have ignited pyrotechnics, which resulted in heavy smoke. According to BILD information, the unknown woman set fire to a Bengalo in the operating room.

Several fire departments are on site. She then barricaded herself in a patient room – it is unclear whether there were other people in the room.

It is currently unclear whether there have been any injuries and whether the suspected person is making demands.

Parts of the clinic are currently being cleared and patients are being relocated. According to the Aachener Zeitung local newsletter distraught people are being led out of the building. The police are calling on people to avoid the area around the Luisenhospital.

More to come…