<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A SWAT team has descended on a small town in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/germany" rel="" target="" title="Germany"><span>Germany</span></a><span> after two people were taken hostage inside a bank.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police said they were alerted to the situation at the Volksbank branch in Sinzig, in the Rhine valley near Koblenz, about 9am.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The small town of about 17,000 people was thrust into lockdown as special operative police tried to figure out how many hostages were being held.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/farrer-byelection-2026-results-new-south-wales-federal-politics/b8d15012-231d-46f1-b7ba-30e5bdb8b5cc" rel="" target="" title="'Screaming out for change': Polling booths close in Farrer byelection"><strong><span>'Screaming out for change': Polling booths close in Farrer byelection</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shortly before 3pm, seven members of the SWAT team stormed the bank, where they freed two uninjured hostages from a locked vault.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of them was believed to be the driver of an armoured cash vehicle that had been ambushed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are relieved that the hostages have been freed. They are deeply affected by what has happened," Koblenz Police spokesperson Juergen Fachinger said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/swat-team-storms-german-bank-after-two-taken-hostage-in-locked-vault/9c653425-9b1b-435d-b1e5-008ce1ed5062" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police didn't find any hostage-takers in the bank, and believe the perpetrator or perpetrators left immediately after locking the people in the vault.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police didn't indicate whether any cash or valuables were stolen.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Volksbank branch is now a crime scene, as detectives investigate how the hostage takers escaped without notice.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>