SWAT team in Bonn Hostage-taking only alleged, according to the victim
Beuel · The police were called to a scene at the Broichstraße (as reported), where a 47-year-old man allegedly held a young woman hostage. The supposed victim disagrees.
The background information about the emergency call by the family, causing a several-hour long police operation including a SWAT team call-out, lies completely in the dark. Relatives of the 19-year-old had called the police because of an alleged hostage-taking and claimed, the young woman was held against her will in a caravan at the grounds of a car repair garage in Beuel. After she was freed, the 19-year old stated she stayed there voluntarily.
It took four hours for the SWAT team to resolve the situation, as neither the 19-year-old nor the man made contact with the police officers, despite being asked several times to vacate the caravan. When the man opened the caravan door, he did not resist arrest. He was injured slightly when the special forces secured him. A police car brought him, the head covered by a towel, to the police station for questioning. The alleged victim stood relatively relaxed beside the police officers and did not seem to be in a particular rush to leave the scene.
Soon, it transpired, why. „The 19-year-old said that the 47-year-old did not hold her against her will“, according to police officer Frank Piontek. In fact, she went to meet up with him voluntarily, when he offered that she could temporarily live in the caravan on the grounds of his garage. „She did not want to go home“, said the spokesperson. Whether the family called the police because they did not agree with the decision of the 19-year-old or if they indeed thought she was held against her will, is not yet clear.
Why the 19-year-old and the 47-year-old did not react to police calls when the officers tried to make contact, is also still unknown.
Beforehand the family of the 19-year-old had tried to persuade the young woman to come home - but was met with strong resistance by the 47-year-old: „The relatives described how he held a rifle in his hand when he opened the door to the caravan“, said Scholten. The rifle (an air gun, apparently) was not pointed at the relatives but the threat that „something would happen“ if they didn’t disappear, worried not only the relatives. „Because of the circumstances we decided to call the SWAT team as support.“
Then during the day yesterday came the sudden turn of events. Police and prosecution now see no reason to investigate a suspected hostage-taking after statements by the 19-year-old. But it is being investigated if the holding of the rifle has to be considered a threat.
The 19-year-old was offered to be counseled by the victim protection team. „It is her decision whether she accepts that offer.“ She returned to the caravan of the 47-year-old immediately after questioning.
(Original text: Jens Kleinert. Translation: Mareike Graepel)
