Multiple suspects and hostages were involved in an ongoing hostage situation at a bank in western Germany, police said on Friday.
One of the hostages was the driver of a money transport vehicle, according to the police.
A large contingent of officers was deployed and a large area was cordoned off around the bank in the town of Sinzig in the Ahrweiler district.
Sinzig lies between the larger cities of Bonn and Koblenz.
A police spokesman said residents within the cordon should not leave their homes. He said the number of people affected in the "lively street" was not large.
For tactical reasons, the spokesman declined to say how many people were inside the bank, nor how the police intended to proceed.
He said police were being very cautious with information, in part because "someone could possibly be listening in."
"We have to wait and see how the situation develops," the police spokesman said, noting that there would be a full briefing afterwards.
Police said there was no danger for members of the public outside the cordon. They were informed of the incident at 9:00 am (0700 GMT).
