A tense overnight standoff in Dortmund came to an end early Wednesday when a 51-year-old man who had fired at police officers and then barricaded himself inside his apartment with his three children gave himself up. The man walked out of the building, a police spokesperson told the news agency AFP. His three underage children were found unharmed inside the flat.
According to police, officers were called to a combined residential and commercial building in the Höchsten district at around 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday after a woman raised the alarm. As the first responders arrived, the 51-year-old suspect fired a shot, believed to have come from a pistol. The round struck a police officer's protective vest, leaving the officer with minor injuries.
The man then withdrew into the apartment and barricaded himself inside together with his three children. Police deployed a large contingent to the scene and cordoned off the residential and commercial building. Special operations units were also brought in, and among other measures they worked to open a line of communication with the man.
After what the police spokesperson described as very long conversations, the 51-year-old finally left the apartment at around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday. He was taken into custody. The pistol used to fire at the officers was seized. The three children were found unharmed inside the apartment. According to the authorities, they will initially be cared for by staff from the local youth welfare office. Their mother is also in the hands of police.
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