One dead and six injured police officers in SEK operation

The Dresden fire brigade had to bring six police officers to safety from the flames during an operation in connection with an armed man on Wednesday evening. The officials with fire escape hoods were brought down the stairwell from the roof of the building, the fire brigade announced on Thursday. They were injured by inhaling smoke from the fire, treated on site by an ambulance and then taken to hospitals by ambulance.

The fire brigade had also recovered a lifeless man from a burning apartment. His identity could not initially be clarified beyond doubt. The police wanted to comment on the details later in the day.

The police went to the house in the so-called Hechtviertel in Dresden on Wednesday afternoon because passers-by had noticed a man with a pistol at an apartment window and therefore raised the alarm. He later also handled a long gun and threatened with an explosive device.

After an emergency call, the Dresden police blocked the street in front of the apartment building, brought neighbors to safety and alerted the special task force (SEK) and the negotiating group of the Saxony State Criminal Police Office. However, the emergency services tried in vain to contact the man.

Instead, the man fired his pistol multiple times and eventually threw it at officers, police said. The weapon is said to be a stun gun. The man also had a long gun with him and threatened to detonate a homemade explosive device if officers entered the apartment, it said.

A fire later broke out in the apartment. When the police noticed the fire in the apartment, the SEK gained access to the apartment to save the man. Due to the "massive fire development" the officials did not penetrate to him. When the fire brigade extinguished the fire, the emergency services found a dead person in the apartment.

The residents of the house had previously been brought to safety and the area was cordoned off over a large area.