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1 released in ongoing bank hostage situation in Duisburg, Germany (VIDEO, PHOTOS) 2 questioned following bank hostage situation in Duisburg, Germany (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
(35 minutes later)
Police are responding to a hostage situation at a Sparkasse bank in Duisburg, Germany. One person has been released while at least one other is being held by an unknown number of armed assailants. Two people are being questioned by police in Duisburg, Germany following an earlier hostage situation at a bank. Two people had been held captive at Sparkasse bank in the Rumeln district.
Initial reports indicated that a male and a female, understood to be husband and wife bank employees, were being held by an armed individual in the savings bank in the Rumeln district, police said, according to Der Westen.  Police tweeted that the hostage situation concluded after special forces entered the bank. Two people arrested earlier in the vicinity are considered by police to be suspicious.
Police confirmed via Twitter that two people have been arrested in the vicinity of the bank and that authorities are trying to ascertain if those arrested are connected to the hostage situation. Initial reports indicated that a male and a female, understood to be husband and wife bank employees, were being held by an armed individual in the savings bank, police said, according to Der Westen.
A tweet from police said the hostage who left was a bank employee, reportedly a woman. It’s understood she exited the bank at around 11am local time, some two hours and 20 minutes after police were called to the scene. Earlier, one of the hostages, reportedly a woman, exited the bank. A tweet from police said she was a bank employee. It’s understood she exited around 11am local time, some two hours and 20 minutes after police were called to the scene. The remaining hostage was released after police entered the bank. 
A statement from police said the area has been sealed off and that officers from neighboring areas are assisting. Photographs from the area show a heavy police presence. Police had sealed off the area and Germany’s Special Deployment Commandos (SEK) were reported to be at the scene, along with a helicopter and snipers.
Germany’s Special Deployment Commandos (SEK) are reported to be at the scene, along with a helicopter and snipers. Video from the area showed the extent of the police presence.
Video from the area shows the extent of the police presence in what they say is an ongoing operation.
It is unclear at this stage how many perpetrators are involved. "We have to assume that there is at least one armed perpetrator and several people in the branch," a police spokesman told N24, according to Neue Presse, adding that authorities have described the raid as an "untypical bank robbery,” as it took place before the bank opened to the public. A police spokesman described the robbery as an "untypical bank robbery,” according to Neue Presse, as it took place before the bank opened to the public.
RP online reported that employees of the bank heard voices coming from a vault when they arrived this morning. Police were alerted to the situation at 8:40am local time. The bank was due to open at 9am.RP online reported that employees of the bank heard voices coming from a vault when they arrived this morning. Police were alerted to the situation at 8:40am local time. The bank was due to open at 9am.