Kidnapping - Police end hostage-taking in Cologne - several arrests
A Special Operations Commando (SEK) unit of the police in Cologne rescued two hostages from the clutches of kidnappers in a residential area. Four suspects were arrested during the operation on Friday afternoon, a police spokesperson said in response to inquiries. The hostages had been injured and received medical treatment.
The kidnapping reportedly began on Friday morning in Bochum. The origin of the crime was in the area of organized drug criminality, the spokesperson added. There was no danger to bystanders during the operation in the residential area.
Due to ongoing investigations, the police initially made no further statements about the victims, the alleged kidnappers, and the background of the crime. Several media outlets had previously reported on the matter.
The hostages were subsequently transported to a hospital in Düsseldorf for further medical examination. The rescue operation in Cologne was a collaborative effort between multiple police units from North Rhine-Westphalia, including those based in the Ruhr area. The Special task force had receiving intelligence about the possible location of the hostages inside the residential area. The successful operation marked a significant blow against organized crime in the Rhineland region.
