Hamburg Airport is currently under lockdown as authorities work to resolve a hostage situation that unfolded when an armed man drove through a security barrier, reaching the tarmac area.
The incident, which began on Saturday evening at around 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT), involves a 35-year-old man and a 4-year-old child who are still inside the vehicle parked beneath an aircraft.
The situation remains tense, with police officers in contact with the armed driver. The airport has been temporarily closed, and all flights have been indefinitely suspended. The fact that the suspect is still in communication with authorities is seen as an encouraging sign. A spokeswoman for the Hamburg police stated that they must consider the potential presence of a gun and explosive devices with the man, though the child is believed to be unharmed.
The incident began when the man drove his vehicle onto the airport's apron, the area designated for parking aircraft. He parked beneath a Turkish Airlines plane and reportedly discharged his weapon into the air while also throwing incendiary devices from the vehicle.
Authorities have reason to believe that this situation may stem from a "custody dispute." The child's mother reportedly alerted emergency services after the man took the 4-year-old. According to Sandra Levgruen, a spokeswoman for Hamburg police, the man objected to some decisions made by the authorities regarding custody arrangements and intended to travel to Turkey with the child. "He speaks about his life being a heap of shards," she said.
Negotiations with the man are being conducted in Turkish through a translator, as local media have reported. However, it remains unclear what the man's connection to the country is.
Specialized officers and psychologists are on-site, along with special forces. Hamburg Airport has reported that around half of the Sunday departures and arrivals have been canceled, with some flights diverted. Passengers have been warned of further delays and cancellations throughout the day. Photo by Soluvo, Wikimedia commons.