Police evacuated a shopping center and its surroundings in the eastern German city of Dresden after ending a hostage situation.
In a statement posted on Twitter, police confirmed that the hostage situation has ended, with two people apparently unharmed in their custody, after shots were fired.
It was not immediately known if a suspect had been taken into custody.
Around 8:30 local time (7:30 GMT), Radio Dresden said a gunman had entered the Ammonhof office building, where the station is located, and that shots had been fired.
Officers urged individuals to avoid the city center on Saturday morning and ordered the Striezelmarkt Christmas market to remain closed while the operation was carried out.
Shortly after 11:30 a.m. (10:30 GMT) local time, police confirmed they were in contact with the attacker, who allegedly took two hostages in the Altmarkt-Galerie shopping center, with a negotiating team at the scene.
Radio Dresden reported that police spokesman Thomas Geithner made an official press statement about the operation.
The radio reported, “According to Geithner, the man is mentally ill. Therefore, the appropriate experts were consulted. The man must be convinced to voluntarily surrender and end the situation.”
Police separately confirmed that a 62-year-old woman had been found dead in an apartment building in Prohlis, Dresden, on Saturday. His 40-year-old son was named as a suspect.
News outlet TAG24 reported that police said the hostage-taking at the Altmarkt-Galerie shopping center was linked to the murder, but declined to provide further details.
That city center closure is now being lifted, with police saying the incident is “no longer a dangerous situation”. But the Altmarkt-Galerie shopping center remains closed.
The incident comes as security has focused on Germany, after investigators earlier this week foiled a far-right plot to topple the German government and install an aristocrat as the leader of a new been