SHARE
COPY LINK

CRIME

Armed man barricades himself in petrol station in Bochum

A major police operation is taking place in Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, after a man barricaded himself in a petrol station with an employee.

Armed man barricades himself in petrol station in Bochum
A major police operation is underway at a petrol station in Bochum. Photo: DPA

Police said the incident was ongoing in the Langendreer district of the city, which is situated between Dortmund and Essen.

An armed man has barricaded himself in the gas station with an employee, RP Online reports. The police have ruled out a terrorist situation.

Officers have been at the site since 7:30 am with a “strong” presence, a police spokesperson said. A special task force (SEK) is also on the scene.

DPA reports that a man has been holding the female employee prisoner. Police are in contact with the perpetrator.

However, police have not confirmed that it is a hostage situation. “The situation is stable” said a spokesperson. “We are in contact with the man.”

Police have been posting information about the situation on Twitter. 

Roads around the petrol station have been closed and authorities urged motorists to avoid the area.

It is thought that the man acted out in response to a situation in his private life, reports DPA. Additional details about the case remain unclear.

Radio Bochum reports that the Rudolf Steiner school and a Waldorf kindergarten in the immediate vicinity are also affected. There is no danger, but teachers have been asked to keep the children in the buildings as a precautionary safety measure.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

BUSINESS

Elon Musk visits Tesla’s sabotage-hit German factory

Elon Musk travelled Wednesday to Tesla's factory near Berlin to lend his workers "support" after the plant was forced to halt production by a suspected arson attack on nearby power lines.

Elon Musk visits Tesla's sabotage-hit German factory

The Tesla CEO addressed thousands of employees on arrival at the site, accusing “eco-terrorists” of the sabotage as he defended his company’s green credentials.

With his son X AE A-XII in his arms, Musk said: “I am here to support you.”

The billionaire’s visit came a week after power lines supplying the electric carmaker’s only European plant were set on fire in an act of sabotage claimed by a far-left group called the Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group).

READ ALSO: Far-left group claims ‘sabotage’ on Tesla’s German factory

Musk had said then that the attack was “extremely dumb”, while the company said it would cost it several hundred million euros.

A week on, the lights have come back on at the site, but Andre Thierig, who heads the site, said on LinkedIn that it would “take a bit of time” before production is back to full speed.

Industry experts have warned that the reputational impact caused by the sabotage on the region could be more severe than the losses suffered by Tesla.

Tesla’s German plant started production in 2022 following an arduous two-year approval and construction process dogged by administrative and legal obstacles.

Tesla wants to expand the site by 170 hectares and boost production up to one million vehicles annually to feed Europe’s growing demand for electric cars and take on rivals who are shifting away from combustion engine vehicles.

But the plans have annoyed local residents, who voted against the project in a non-binding ballot last month.

After the vote, Tesla said it might have to rethink the plans. Environmental activists opposed to the expansion of the factory have recently also set up a camp in a wooded area near the plant.

READ ALSO: Why is Tesla’s expansion near Berlin so controversial?

SHOW COMMENTS