The standoff begins

A domestic incident in Dortmund escalated into a major police operation on Tuesday evening after a 51-year-old Serbian man shot at officers and retreated into an apartment with his three children. The man's wife had called emergency services around 7:15 p.m., prompting police to respond to the residential and commercial building on Wittbräucker Straße in the Höchsten district. When officers arrived, the suspect fired a pistol at them, striking one officer in the bulletproof vest. The protective gear prevented more serious injury, and the officer sustained only minor wounds. Police returned a warning shot before the man withdrew into the apartment.

The overnight siege

Following the initial exchange of gunfire, the suspect barricaded himself inside the apartment with his daughters, aged 7, 10, and 12. Authorities classified the situation as a threat scenario and deployed a special operations unit (SEK) along with negotiators. Police maintained contact with the man throughout the night. A spokesperson said it was unclear whether the suspect was armed during the entire standoff, and could not confirm whether the children's mother was inside the apartment at any point. Officials stressed that there was never any danger to uninvolved bystanders.

“The bulletproof vest prevented worse.”

Prior altercation at a restaurant

German tabloid Bild reported that the suspect had been causing a disturbance at a Dortmund restaurant earlier on Tuesday evening, threatening guests with a baton and deploying pepper spray. According to Bild's account, he then fled in a car. When police attempted to intercept him, he allegedly fired through the window, striking the officer. Police have not yet confirmed this version of events. Bild also reported that the perpetrator was in contact with his parents during the standoff.

Surrender and aftermath

The siege ended at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday when the suspect walked out of the building voluntarily after hours of negotiations and surrendered without resistance. He was taken into custody by SEK officers. The three children were found unharmed in the apartment and were cared for by emergency services until the arrival of Dortmund's youth welfare office. Police stated the children were doing well under the circumstances. Investigations into the background of the incident are ongoing.

“The children are doing well under the circumstances.”