HAMBURG, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 05: Officers of German BFE police unit stand on the apron of Hamburg Airport while passengers are evacuated on November 5, 2023 in Hamburg, Germany. According to media reports, a man armed with a gun drove a car through a perimeter gate onto the tarmac, where he attempted to set several fires. He reportedly also has two children in the car with him and is now in a standoff with police. All flights from the airport have been cancelled and approaching flights diverted. (Photo by Gregor Fischer/Getty Images)
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Hamburg police said on Saturday they were dealing with a hostage situation after a man drove through a barrier onto the grounds of the city’s airport with a child.
The airport closed for all takeoffs and landings shortly after the incident at around 8 p.m. local time.
The car with the 35-year-old man and 4-year-old child was parked under a plane, a police spokesperson said, and officers were at the scene with a large presence late on Saturday.
04 November 2023, Hamburg: A dark-colored car is parked under a Turkish Airlines plane at the airport. Hamburg Airport has been closed after a vehicle entered the premises. A gunman had broken through a gate with his vehicle and had already fired twice into the air, a spokesman for the federal police said on Saturday evening. Photo: Jonas Walzberg/dpa (Photo by Jonas Walzberg/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Police said it was likely a custody dispute. The mother told police the father had been in contact with her about the act.
Police would not confirm their earlier statements that the man was armed and had fired shots.
A spokesperson for the airport said 27 flights had been affected.