Gunman at German school surrenders; hostages safe

WAIBLINGEN, Germany -- A teenager brandishing a pistol seized four youngsters Friday at a school in southwestern Germany and demanded $1 million ransom. Hours later, he surrendered after freeing the hostages unharmed, police said.

After the standoff at the school in Waiblingen, near Stuttgart, ended at about 9:20 p.m., police said that the weapon turned out to be an air pistol, which fires pellets that can cause serious injury or kill at close range.

The hostage-taker had told police by cell phone he wanted $1 million and a getaway car, police said.

After about five hours, the teen released one hostage in return for a pizza and then another in return for a cell phone and a chance to call someone. He let the two others go a little more than an hour later and was arrested.

About 100 students were in the Friedensschule, or Peace School, when a 16-year-old former student walked in and sat down in a second-floor computer room around 2:30 p.m., witnesses and police said. Minutes later, he stood up and pulled out a handgun, they said.

Students said he warned them to remain calm and then gave a mobile phone number to a teacher. He sent her and all but four students out of the room and made them close the curtains before calling police.

"He said, 'If you don't keep quiet something will happen,'" said Marc, an 11-year-old student.

Police said he had planned the attack well in advance and had read a book on hostage taking. The only motive the teen mentioned was "debts" that he had, police said.

They also said the teen had outfitted himself with a bulletproof vest.

The hostages were sixth-graders, around 12 years old, Keller said.

In April, a 19-year-old former student killed himself and 16 other people in an attack inside a school in Erfurt, in eastern Germany. Thirteen of the dead were teachers.