Bus Hijacking Near Bremen, Germany

MSNBC ^ | 4/25/2002 | MSNBC

[Catspaw]

MSNBC is reporting a bus hijacking on the road between Bremen and Hanover, Germany. The hijacker is holding a gun to the bus driver's head. There are 14 other people on board. The bus hijacker is reported to be of "southern" appearance, which is considered to be either Arabic of Asian in Germany.

[Catspaw]

Armed Hijacker Seizes German Bus Carrying 15
Fri April 25, 2003 06:19 AM ET
By Peter Mlodoch

HANOVER (Reuters) - An armed man hijacked a bus with about 15 people on board in the northern German city of Bremen on Friday, triggering a police pursuit along a motorway.

Police said they had made contact with the man, aged about 20 and of foreign appearance, but did not know his motives. He boarded the bus on Friday morning at around 9:40 a.m. (3:40 a.m. EDT) and threatened the driver with a gun.

The hijacker let three passengers go and the remaining 15 were sitting in the rear seats of the bus, N24 television reported. The man was sitting behind the driver with a gun pointed at him, N24 said.

The bus, traveling at about 30 miles per hour, was headed south after passing Hanover on the A7 motorway, about 90 miles from Bremen.

The hijacking comes two weeks after a bank robber hijacked a bus in Berlin. Police stormed that bus after a four-hour stand-off, shooting and injuring the assailant while rescuing his two hostages unharmed.

Television pictures on Friday showed a red and white bus followed at a distance by a convoy of marked and unmarked police vehicles and ambulances. The driver was clearly visible but the gunman could not be seen.

The police spokesman said the hijacker was of "southern appearance" -- a loose description German police often use for people from southern Mediterranean, Arab or Asian countries.

"We have no information on his motive and no indication that he has used any violence," the spokesman said. A television news reporter in the convoy said police appeared to be trying to create a traffic jam to force the bus to stop.

The bus hijacked on Friday belongs to the Verkehrsbetriebe Bremen-Niedersachsen (VBN) public transport company.

[jrlc]

Certainly can't be one of the Islam is a Religion of Peace hijackers?

[longjack]

This "Spiegel" report says the highjacker is of Turkish descent.

"Spiegel"..Weitere Geisel entkommt dem Kidnapper

Highjacker is calm and ordely, but he had fired a warning shot in the air.

The bus has been stopped by a planned traffic jam.

longjack

[bart99]

I just never have understood why the cops don't just shoot out the tires of a vehicle they are chasing... from car-chases in LA to this bus. At least the friggin thing would stop.

[aposiopetic]

The police spokesman said the hijacker was of "southern appearance"

No doubt one of the Dixie Chicks, ever more desperate

[Moonmad27]

Asia is south of Germany? Placing my bet that the guy is named Mohammed...

[mhking]

You beat me to the punch.... From BBC News:

---

German bus hijacked

Emergency service vehicles are stationed along the bus's route

An armed man has hijacked a bus with about 15 passengers in the northern German city of Bremen and ordered the driver to drive south.

Police say the bus is currently heading along the A7 motorway towards the city of Kassel, followed by special police in unmarked cars.

Emergency services vehicles are trailing it at a distance, and a helicopter is flying overhead.

A police spokesman said officers had established telephone contact with the hijacker and were attempting to persuade him to surrender without bloodshed.

Heiner Melloh of Bremen police said the armed man appeared to be about 20 to 25 years old and of southern appearance - a description used for people from Mediterranean or Arab countries.

He added that three passengers had been freed or managed to escape at the start of the hijacking at about 0900 (0700 GMT).

Second hijacking

The driver called police at 0917 to say he was diverting from his usual route.

The hijacker is reported to have sat down behind him, and to be threatening him with his gun.

The passengers are sitting in the rear seats.

The bus at first appeared to be heading for Hanover, but it bypassed the city, and continued its journey.

It is travelling at about 50 kilometres per hour (30 mph).

The BBC's Tristana Moore in Berlin says the hijacker's motive for seizing the bus is unknown.

Officials have no information about whether he is making any demands.

It is the second time in two weeks that a bus has been hijacked in Germany.

On 11 April an armed man hijacked a double-decker bus in Berlin after a bank robbery.

Police stormed the vehicle and overpowered him after a four-hour standoff, rescuing his two hostages unharmed.

[Diogenesis]

"Two white men in an SUV" says German-Moose.

[longjack]

" Spiegel" Update: 7:45 AM:

The high-jacker is about 25 YO and of 'Southern Country Type' appearance (i.E.: dark-complexion). He wants to talk to the mayor of the city of Bremen, and his demands are of 'political content'. Some passengers escaped unhurt. Man is calm and composed. He did fire a shot into the air. He has received water and a new cell-phone from police. He does not want to negotiate with the police, but police are talking with him through the open door of the bus. The article still states in a later paragraph that the High-jacker is of Turkish descent.

Link above will work for updates.

IMO, this is a 'Nut', not a terroist. Probably wants a parking ticket fixed by the mayor.

longjack

[Catspaw]

MSNBC is reporting the hijacker wants to talk to the Mayor of Bremen.

(And sorry about beating you to the punch--I did post it with the barest minimum of coffee, so I'm amazed I was coherent.)

[mystery-ak]

Speed 111

[BrooklynGOP]

Fixing a ticket is not a demand of "political content".

[longjack]

I should have added a sarcasm tag.

He wants to talk to the mayor, I think it's probably some local political issue.

longjack

[Thane_Banquo]

This story is obviously false. After all, there's no gun crime in Germany: They have gun control.

[Catspaw]

It looks like the bus is stopped either near or under a bridge. That'd be good cover for a SWAT team.

[longjack]

Yes.

The article said the bus had been suurounded by police vehicles during it's voyage and had been stopped by an 'artificial' traffic jam. You can be sure the Polizei planned to stop it under the bridge for the reasons you describe.

longjack

[Tijeras_Slim]

The bus has been stopped by a planned traffic jam.

German efficiency! :)

[12B]

Schon Wieder??

[longjack]

"Spiegel" Update 8:10.

The high-jacker let 4 people go. 11 are left, among them several kids.

The highjacker wants a 2nd driver to continue his drive south.

The bus was stopped with a faked accident.

Right under the bridge.

longjack