Suspect dead after killing mother and taking hostages in Germany

An employee of a security company stands near the Altmarktgalerie after a hostage situation in Dresden, Germany (dpa via AP)

A 40-year-old man suspected of killing his mother and later taking two people hostage in the east German city of Dresden has died, police said.

Authorities had urged people to avoid an area in the city centre and ordered Dresden’s Christmas market to remain closed while the police operation to free the hostages was under way.