Passers-by see a man handling a gun in his apartment in Dresden. The alarmed police arrive with a large contingent. When a fire breaks out in the apartment, the officers take action.

After a large-scale operation because of an armed 26-year-old at the window of a residential building in Dresden and a subsequent arson, the emergency services rescued the man dead from his apartment. According to final information from the police in the Saxon state capital, passers-by alarmed the officials the day before when they saw the man with a gun at the window. He later also handled a long gun and threatened with an explosive device.

After the emergency call, the Dresden police blocked the street in front of the residential building in the Leipziger Vorstadt district and brought neighbors to safety. The special task force (SEK) and the negotiating group of the Saxon State Criminal Police Office (LKA) were alerted. However, the emergency services tried in vain to contact the man.

According to the police, the man fired his pistol – a blank pistol – several times and then threw it at the officers. Later he handled a long gun at the window, which was an airsoft weapon in the form of a submachine gun. He also threatened to detonate a homemade explosive device if the police came into the apartment. The police then called for LKA explosives experts.

Eventually, a fire broke out in the apartment, whereupon the SEK gained access to save the man. Due to the “massive fire development” the officials did not get to him. When the fire brigade extinguished the fire, the emergency services found the dead 26-year-old in the apartment. The body is to be examined by a forensic scientist to determine the exact cause of death.

According to the fire department, six police officers who were injured by smoke gas had to be rescued from the building after the man had been rescued. They were first treated by emergency doctors and then taken to hospitals by ambulance. All other apartments in the building were checked and ventilated, after which the residents were able to return.

According to the police, he had set fire to the 26-year-old’s apartment in several places. She burned out completely. Officials found no evidence of a home-made explosive device. There is also no information as to a possible motive. More than 140 police officers were on duty.