Berlin supermarket hostage situation: Man holds woman, police in contact
A man took a woman hostage in a Rewe supermarket in Berlin's Marienfelde district shortly after 22:00 on Friday, triggering a large police operation. Officers are in contact with the man as the standoff continues.
What happened
Police in Berlin are responding to a hostage situation at a Rewe supermarket in the Marienfelde district. A man took a woman into his custody shortly after 22:00 on Friday, 10 July, according to a statement from the Berlin police. The man remains inside the store, and the woman is being held against her will. The motive and background of the incident are not yet known, a police spokesman said early Saturday morning. The supermarket is located on Hildburghauser Straße in the southern Tempelhof-Schöneberg borough.
Police response
A major police contingent has been deployed to the scene, with officers in protective gear and armed units visible outside the entrance. Police spokesman Stefan Petersen confirmed that negotiators have established contact with the man and are attempting to resolve the situation peacefully.
It is currently the case that he is still in the market and we are now with forces here at the scene, and the operation is still ongoing.
The area around the supermarket has been cordoned off, and multiple emergency vehicles are present. Authorities are not releasing further details while the operation is active, citing operational security. Petersen told the German Press Agency that more information would be shared only after the incident is concluded.
Witnesses and social media
Footage posted to social media showed a police officer climbing a ladder leaning against the building's wall and peering inside through a window. Other videos captured armed officers positioned at the store's entrance. Onlookers gathered nearby, observing the heavy police presence. The street remained partially blocked, with a visible perimeter of police and emergency vehicles. No injuries have been reported so far, and there is no indication of additional people inside the market.
What's next
Police are continuing negotiations with the perpetrator and have not given a timeline for resolution. The operation, which began late Friday evening, was still active as of the early hours of Saturday morning. The Berlin police have asked the public to avoid the area and not to share unverified information on social media. Further updates are expected once the situation is brought under control.
