Hostage taking in Rimbach: Dramatic police operation in the bank!

On January 7, 2025, there was a police operation on Rathausstrasse in Rimbach, southern Hesse, due to an incident in a Volksbank branch. A 36-year-old man broke into the bank around 8 a.m. and held a 21-year-old bank employee against her will. The area was cordoned off over a large area and many police officers and specialized emergency services were on site. Due to the ongoing measures, the police initially did not provide any further information.

The incident lasted about three hours and ended with the arrest of the perpetrator at around 11 a.m. He was arrested without resistance, although fortunately no injuries were reported. During the hostage-taking, the perpetrator threatened the employee with a “tool”. The man's exact motive is still unclear; It is not yet clear whether he intended to steal money.

Details about the use

The Volksbank branch is normally closed to the public on Tuesdays. During the operation, the Rimbach town thoroughfare and federal highway 38 were closed in the affected area. A special operations team and a negotiation team made contact with the perpetrator. The investigation is currently underway, witnesses are being interviewed and traces are being evaluated. A search of the suspect's apartment is also planned.

Legally, the incident is viewed as a deprivation of liberty, with hostage-taking being a special form of this. The affected employee and her relatives receive psychological support, such as hessenschau.de reported. In parallel describes Palatinate Express that the police initially did not provide any further information out of consideration for the ongoing measures.