Twelve people held hostage in southwestern German city Freiburg

A 36-year-old man is holding 12 people hostage in the southwestern German city of Freiburg on Thursday evening, local police said.

According to local media reports, the repeatedly convicted man barricaded 12 relatives and friends in a fast food restaurant he owns shortly after 7 p.m. local time.

The hostage-taker, whose motive is still unknown, is believed to be armed and dangerous. In addition, he had threatened that he had bombs with him, a police spokesman said.

Police officers have made contact with the man by phone to get him to surrender. The surrounding area has been sealed off and a special police unit is in operation on the scene.