Collaborative Press Statement by the Lüneburg Police Headquarters, Hannover Fire Department, and Hannover Police Headquarters: Examination of the successful execution of events on September 21, 2024
In a series of shocking events, two separate incidents occurred in the cities of Hannover and Celle, requiring the immediate response of police, fire, and other emergency services.
On September 21, 2024, a bus driver was taken hostage by a perpetrator in Celle. The Hannover Police's negotiation team made contact with the hostage-taker, aiming to de-escalate the situation. Meanwhile, in Hannover, another serious incident occurred: a bomb attack on a bus, requiring extensive evacuation and securing of the crime scene.
The perpetrator, an accomplice of the Celle attack, barricaded himself in the bus. The Hannover Police, along with other forces, acted quickly to cordon off the area around the bus to control the situation and prevent further endangerment. The first challenge was to quickly and efficiently cordon off the area to ensure safety for both the public and police forces.
The Hannover Fire Department was heavily involved, providing first aid to the injured and coordinating their distribution to nearby hospitals. The Fire Department's Director, Christoph Bahlmann, emphasized the importance of close cooperation with the police in critical situations.
The police cordoned off the area around the bus, and the negotiation team acted with high professionalism and empathy to ensure the safety of the bus driver. After several hours of negotiations, the perpetrator surrendered to the special operations unit without resistance, and the hostage was released unharmed.
The scenario involved several armed perpetrators opening fire, resulting in fatalities and injuries. Extensive investigations were underway to clarify the background of the crime and identify any further perpetrators or accomplices. The responsible police directorate of Lüneburg had to coordinate investigations and deployment measures, dealing with potential connections between the bomb attack in Celle and the previous attack on the event in Hannover.
The exercise aimed to train various challenges of such operations and optimize procedures among the involved forces. The Hannover Police Directorate's Vice-President, Thorsten Massinger, expressed satisfaction with the forces' performance but noted areas for improvement. Axel Brockmann, Lower Saxony's State Police President, praised the exercise's realism and the cooperation among involved authorities.
The fourth perpetrator gained access to the USTRA operating yard "Glocksee" on September 21, 2024. The intervention forces had to act under high time pressure and under the threat of the armed perpetrators. Witness interviews were conducted to clarify the course of the crime and support witnesses in processing their experiences.
The search results do not provide specific information about which police officers from the Polizeidirektion Lüneburg were involved in the coordination of investigations and operations during the simulated terrorist attack in Hannover and Celle. However, the cooperation and coordination among the various forces were evident in their swift and effective response to the incidents.
In conclusion, the incidents in Hannover and Celle on September 21, 2024, tested the response capabilities of the police, fire, and other emergency services. Despite the challenges, the forces demonstrated professionalism, cooperation, and a commitment to ensuring the safety of the public. The exercises and investigations that followed will undoubtedly help in optimizing procedures and preparing for future incidents.
