Shots fired on hijacked German bus

Two masked men robbed a Berlin bank today before at least one of them took passengers on a city bus hostage, German police said.

At least one shot was fired on board the double-decker bus, but it was unclear whether it came from a hijacker or a policewoman who was among the hostages, officials said.

Police sharpshooters took up position around the bus, which came to a stop on a major road about an hour after the 9:40am (0840 Irish time) robbery. Officers sealed off the street with red and white tape.

While two men had robbed the bank, a police spokesman said there was only one hostage-taker on board the bus. Officials were negotiating with him to free the remaining two captives.

N-24 television said more than 20 hostages were on the double-decker. But most apparently were released or had escaped, and officials said only the policewoman and the bus driver were still being held by midday.

“I saw a man with raised hands getting into the bus through the rear door, evidently a negotiator,” said Manfred Rademacher, who said he could see the scene from his office window.

“Sharpshooters are in position. Some are pointing weapons at the bus.”

The robbers commandeered the bus after holding up a Commerzbank branch in a busy shopping street in the southern district of Steglitz.

Witnesses said two masked men entered the bank, one with a pistol, and shouted “Money, money.”

They made off with an undetermined amount of money, then hijacked the bus at a stop directly outside the bank.

The hostage-takers first directed the bus to drive towards the city centre, then turned east, media reports said.