Two men dead after armed police storm Stuttgart law firm where gunman held hostage
TWO men have been found dead after police stormed a building following a five-hour standoff with a gunman holding a hostage at a law firm in Stuttgart, Germany.
Police were called following reports of a gunman holding hostages in Stuttgart
Police stormed the building after a gunman barricaded himself inside a law firm's offices in a house and took one person hostage.
Stuttgart Police confirmed officers found the bodies of the gunman and another man, said to be a 75-year-old lawyer, in the basement following a five hour siege in Gerokstraße.
Local media say a man with a firearm broke into the building in eastern Stuttgart at around 1pm (GMT) and it was initially reported two people had been taken hostage.
Stuttgart Police said in a statement: "Special forces have found two dead men in a house in the Gerokstraße.
"At around 1pm a neighbour called the police to say she had seen a man in a neighbouring building who had a firearm in his hand and had heard a shot shortly after.
"Police officers surrounded the building and locked off the area. After there hadn't been any visible movement inside the building for a long time the special forces entered the property and building.
Witnesses reported hearing one gunshot
SWAT teams have surrounded the building
Special forces have told residents to stay away from windows and doors as they track the gunman
In the basement officers found two dead men with gunshot wounds
"In the basement they found two dead men with gunshot wounds.
"One of the dead men is the 75-year-old lawyer who was a resident there. The other person is a 67-year-old man from Frankfurt.
"The criminal investigation department is investigating the background and motive for the act."
Police at a hostage situation in Stuttgart
The gunman was seen in Gerokstraße in eastern Stuttgart
Special forces sealed off the area around the building and put the neighbourhood on lockdown.
Train services were also suspended between Ruhbank tower and Olgaeck train station.
It's believed at least two people were taken hostage and witnesses reported hearing one gunshot.
#SEK und Polizei abgerückt.Wohngebiet wieder freigegeben.Spurensicherung wohl noch Stunden.@swrnewsbw #Stuttgart pic.twitter.com/tOX0sVc3OR
— Martin Schmidt (@SchmidtLev) July 11, 2016
More than 300 officers were called to the scene and neighbours were told to keep away from windows and doors.
Local media say police attempted to make contact with the gunman before storming the building.
The lockdown was lifted shortly after police discovered the bodies but the house remained cordoned off as a forensics team carried out their investigation.