Coordinated Press Statement: Collaborative Evaluation of the Execution of the 21st of September, 2024, Operations by Lüneburg Police, Hannover Fire Department, and Hannover Police Department.
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, a large-scale exercise was carried out by the Police Directorate of Hannover, the Police Directorate of Lüneburg, the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office, the Central Police Directorate of Lower Saxony, the Hannover Fire Department, and the USTRA. The exercise aimed to simulate and prepare for potential threats to public safety, with a focus on critical infrastructure and coordinated responses.
The exercise began with an attack on a public information event, involving several armed perpetrators opening fire, resulting in fatalities and injuries. One attacker was stopped in a targeted operation, but another barricaded himself in a school building and took hostages. A fourth perpetrator gained access to the USTRA bus depot "Glocksee," taking a bus driver hostage and barricading himself in a bus.
The first challenge was to quickly and efficiently cordon off the area to ensure safety. The area around the bus depot was immediately cordoned off, and the employees of the control center had to evacuate and move to the backup control center at Kröpcke. The intervention forces had to act under high time pressure and under the constant threat posed by the armed perpetrators.
The negotiation team of the Hannover Police made contact with the hostage-taker to de-escalate the situation. Their efforts paid off, as the hostage was released unharmed, and the perpetrator surrendered without resistance, allowing for his arrest. The rescue forces of the Hannover Fire Department provided first aid to the injured and coordinated the distribution of casualties to nearby hospitals.
Extensive investigations were underway to clarify the background of the crime and identify any further perpetrators or accomplices. The police authorities in Lüneburg and Hannover had to coordinate investigations and deployment measures, focusing on potential connections between the two incidents and the possibility of further attacks.
Axel Brockmann, President of the Lower Saxony Police, praised the cooperation and preparation of the participating authorities. Thorsten Massinger, Vice President of the Hannover Police Directorate and Exercise Commander, highlighted the challenges faced during the exercise and the need for further fine-tuning. The forces had to work hand in hand to inform the public while maintaining control of the security situation in both regions.
The USTRA bus depot posed a threat to the critical infrastructure of the city's public transport. Meanwhile, a bomb attack occurred on a bus in the area of Celle, requiring extensive evacuation and securing of the crime scene. The exercise demonstrated the importance of coordinated responses and effective communication in such crises, ensuring the safety of the public and the swift resolution of incidents.
