According to the information, the police received emergency calls from 4:23 p.m. about an alleged hostage-taking in downtown Karlsruhe. Only two minutes later, the first emergency services were on site. There were then several contacts and attempts to negotiate with the suspect. "At 9:10 p.m., a special unit entered the pharmacy and arrested the alleged hostage-taker," the statement said. According to preliminary information, no one was injured.

After the access, the police searched the entire building for possible other suspects and also possible other hostages. "After completing these measures, the public prosecutor's office and the police are now investigating, among other things, the extent to which one of the eleven hostages could also be an accomplice in the arrest."

The alleged perpetrator is known to the police, according to the information. Criminal charges have already been issued against the 20-year-old German for violent, property and general crime. His possible motives and the background to the crime initially remained unclear.