UPDATE 1-Several hostages taken at German bank branch, police say

Police also ⁠said they had launched extensive operations ​and had cordoned off a large ⁠area. The incident was reported in the ⁠town's ​centre in the regional state of Rhineland-Palatinate at 0700 GMT, ⁠police added. There is no danger to the ⁠public ⁠outside the cordoned-off area, according to the police.

​German police ‌said on Friday ​several people, including one cash transport ‌driver, had been taken hostage at a savings bank branch in the ‌western town of Sinzig.

"It is currently believed ‌that there are several perpetrators and hostages inside the bank," police said ⁠in ​a statement, adding ⁠that the situation was currently "stable". Police also ⁠said they had launched extensive operations ​and had cordoned off a large ⁠area.

The incident was reported in the ⁠town's ​centre in the regional state of Rhineland-Palatinate at 0700 GMT, ⁠police added. There is no danger to the ⁠public ⁠outside the cordoned-off area, according to the police.