Hostage-taking: The perpetrators came masked with motorcycle helmets

By Michael Behrendt, Dirk Böttger, Matthias Becker, Matthias Bieder and Jörg Bergmann

The man was born in Iran and is said to live near the shop. As BZ learned, the perpetrator is said to have worked as a temporary assistant in the neighboring carpet cleaning company. Together with compatriot Sina H. (22) he wanted to rob the antique dealer and his employee who was in the shop!

As the woman BZ said, “the perpetrators stormed into the store, masked with motorcycle helmets”. Apparently, the two waited for the moment when the door was open. That’s not unusual, said the woman: “My boss likes to stand in front of the store when the weather is good and make calls or talk to customers outside.”

The robbers demanded money. But the owner only had 500 euros in the register. Robber Mohamad ME is said to have laughed out loud, as BZ learned. Because he had obviously promised himself more. The man, who according to the public prosecutor was considered mentally unstable, is said to have “freaked out” immediately. He threatened the woman and the porcelain dealer and also hit them both. He asked for more money!

The police then moved in with a large contingent and cordoned off the area between Kurfürstenstrasse and Kleiststrasse. The robbery suddenly turned into a hostage situation!

The chronology

► 5.30 p.m. the emergency call is received by the police. There’s talk of a robbery. Two criminals are said to have broken into the store.

► The police surrounded the building and blocked off the street extensively. In addition to two special task forces, ambulances and paramedics are also at the crime scene.

► A woman is rescued from the danger area with serious injuries and is then treated by rescue workers. She comes to a hospital. It is still unclear what injuries the woman suffered and where they came from.

► Around 8 p.m., the emergency services were able to arrest another man “relatively early”, as the police spokesman said. The man left the store and turned himself in to police. Snipers positioned themselves. According to BZ information, it is the younger of the two men: Sina H. (22), who is said to be registered in Brandenburg. According to the police spokesman, he was also armed.

► 11 p.m.: Mohamad ME is said to have removed his helmet in the meantime. He’s still in the building. According to BILD information, he is said to continue to have the owner of the well-known antique porcelain business hostage. The police asks passers-by, residents and the press “not to publish any pictures of our forces and operations in Schöneberg during the ongoing operation. This can hinder the operation and endanger the people involved.”

► The police are negotiating with the kidnapper. According to BZ information, he threatens an explosion.

► Around 2.40 a.m. access! The SEK stormed the store and freed the hostage, who fortunately remained unharmed. The man was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

► According to BZ information, a police officer falls during access and is slightly injured.

► The hostage-taker is taken out of the antique shop lifeless and with a gunshot wound to the head; he had apparently recently pointed the gun at himself. He still came to a hospital – but only his death could be determined there.

► The police secure tracks into the morning.

Motive still unclear

As of Tuesday morning, the robbers’ motive is still unclear. The interrogations are ongoing.

BZ met the hostage-taker’s ex-wife in front of the shop. She cried and said sadly, “We have been separated for four years. My ex-husband suffered from depression. I can’t say why he robbed the store. He was probably short of money. He worked part-time in another shop and also slept there because he no longer had an apartment. It is so sad.”

A homicide squad has taken over the investigation. According to Sebastian Büchner, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office, an arrest warrant is being examined against Sina H.