In the last half hour or so, a major security incident has occurred at Hamburg Airport.
It is understood a man with a gun has crashed through a gate with his car and continued driving to the tarmac, which has caused departures and arrivals to halt.
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Updates: Major Security Incident At Hamburg Airport Ongoing
This is a developing story. Updates below. Continue to refresh frequently.
UPDATE #1 @ 2200 UK time – Sources are stating that a hostage situation could be in place currently at Hamburg Airport.
UPDATE #2 @ 2202 UK time – The airport has confirmed that all operations for the rest of tonight have been cancelled due to this security incident.
UPDATE #3 @ 2204 UK time – Very heavy police presence at Hamburg Airport currently. Reports stating that the assailant fired off shots whilst breaking in.
UPDATE #4 @ 2206 UK time – @BNONews reporting that the car that the assailant was driving parked underneath an airplane. Also told that they do have hostages, holding 2 children.
UPDATE #5 @ 2207 UK time – German SWAT have been called in, with the Police confirming the hostage situation at Hamburg Airport.
UPDATE #6 @ 2209 UK time – Footage has been captured from inside the terminal, with police near the jetways, presumably where the assailant could potentially be.
UPDATE #7 @ 2212 UK time – The current scene from Hamburg Airport, courtesy of @RadarBoxCom. Nothing in or out for the rest of today.
UPDATE #8 @ 2213 UK time – Update from the police force in the area, translated into English from German:
“According to findings, a car got onto the apron of the @HamburgAirport around 8 p.m. There are at least 2 people in the vehicle, including a child. We continue to assume a hostage situation. The situation is static.”
UPDATE #9 @ 2220 UK time – Police spokesperson giving an update on the current situation. No injuries reported so far.
UPDATE #10 @ 2240 UK time – German SEK heavily armed officers have been observed at the airport. Information stating that they are preparing for an operation caused by this incident.
UPDATE #11 @ 2242 UK time – Footage from onboard an Austrian Airlines flight at Hamburg Airport being evacuated.
UPDATE #12 @ 2243 UK time – Additional update from the local police believe that the cause of this incident was due to a custody dispute, hence the child that has been taken hostage.
UPDATE #13 @ 2245 UK time – Police helicopter seen hovering over the airport boundaries to help assist in this operation.
UPDATE #14 @ 2253 UK time – Another angle from onboard the Austrian Airlines flight. This time, armed police surrounding the aircraft and securing the airport.
UPDATE #15 @ 2258 UK time – Pictures of passengers disembarking the Austrian Airlines flight at Hamburg in the presence of armed police.
UPDATE #16 @ 2303 UK time – Passengers were given cover by vans as they were being escorted by police. Harrowing moments.
UPDATE #17 @ 2310 UK time – Turkish Airlines flight TK1667 from Istanbul had to divert to Hanover due to the closure of Hamburg Airport.
UPDATE #18 @ 2318 UK time – Polizei Hamburg confirms that they are evacuating all aircraft that still have passengers onboard, and that the collection point is the Radisson Blu.
UPDATE #19 @ 2320 UK time – Clearer footage has emerged of the offender with a child hostage driving off after setting fires on the tarmac at the airport.
UPDATE #20 @ 2324 UK time – Understood that the police are in strong negotiations with the offender.
UPDATE #21 @ 2329 UK time – Looks like all evacuated passengers from the aircraft are being placed on buses, presumably to the collection point at the Radisson Blu.
UPDATE #22 @ 2333 UK time – Understood Austrian Airlines flight OS172 was about to depart just as the incident was happening, with the flight told to vacate and await further instruction initially.
UPDATE #23 @ 2337 UK time – Passengers seen in a nearby hotel, with no one telling them the next steps at this point.
UPDATE #24 @ 2354 UK time – It is understood that six more flights were due to depart Hamburg Airport tonight, with 21 more to land. This incident has caused disruption to over 3,000 passengers.
UPDATE #25 @ 0004 UK time (5/11/23) – It is understood the offender was seen hiding behind a Turkish Airlines aircraft at Hamburg.
UPDATE #26 @ 1008 UK time – The airport still remains closed as hostage negotiations still continue to take place.
UPDATE #27 @ 1010 UK time – New update from the Hamburg Police has come in. Translated from German to English:
“Our negotiating group remains in contact with the suspect. We currently have to assume that he is in possession of a live firearm and possibly also explosive devices of an unknown type. Our top priority is protecting the child. According to our current findings, the child is doing well physically. Negotiations will continue.”
UPDATE #28 @ 1334 UK time – @PolizeiHamburg have confirmed that the hostage situation at Hamburg Airport is now over, with the offender arrested and the child safe.
Translated from German to English, the statement says:
“The hostage situation is over. The suspect got out of the car with his daughter. The man was arrested by the emergency services without resistance. The child appears to be unharmed.”
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