Several people, including a cash delivery driver, have been taken hostage at a bank in western Germany, police said.
The incident in Sinzig, about 12 miles south of Bonn, was reported at 9am local time and the situation described as "stable".
"It is currently believed that there are several perpetrators and hostages inside the bank," police said.
The area around a Volksbank branch in the centre of the town was cordoned off and special forces reportedly positioned at the entrances.
The hostage takers are said to be holed up inside the vault, according to German news site Bild.
It said the driver was taken hostage when their armoured truck pulled up outside the bank, with pictures showing a blue van parked partially blocking the street outside.
Despite the ongoing standoff, police said there was no wider threat to the public.
(c) Sky News 2026: Hostages taken as police surround bank in German town of Sinzig
English council elections: What the results so far are telling us, in maps and charts
South Africa's top court rules against Cyril Ramaphosa over 'Farmgate' scandal
Household energy suppliers E.ON and Ovo target merger announcement next week | Mark Kleinman blog
What has South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa been accused of?
Britain's first gay surrogate parent charged with rape and human trafficking
North Korea's Kim Jong Un and daughter eat with crew on new warship Choe Hyon
South East Water boss quits a week after chairman
White House calls Mark Hamill 'sick individual' for Trump grave post
