[Anckzxik]

08:22 GMT, 4 July 2012

A siege has ended in Germany with a hostage taker and four of his captives dead after
an attempted eviction morphed into a bloodbath.

Media reports say the armed gunman executed a bailiff, his assistant and a locksmith in the
south-western city of Karlsruhe with shots to the head before taking his own life.

Later police confirmed that a fifth body had been found, that of a woman, and it is understood
this is the corpse of the killer's ex-girflriend who owned the apartment and who took out the
eviction order against her former lover.

The drama began shortly after 9am this morning when court-appointed officials arrived at the
loft apartment in the city's Kanalweg to enforce the order.

According to reports the hostage taker was a hunter and had a small arsenal of weapons at
his disposal.

It was said that he also had a hand grenade and was heard by neighbours to shout at the
bailiff: 'You want my home, it will cost you your life.'

Officers of the elite SEK armed police commando squad, 40 in all, surrounded the apartment
building after sealing off nearby roads.

More than 200 police were in operation in all and a police helicopter hovered overhead during
the three hour standoff.

It is understood no lines of communication were opened up with the gunman and that the
victims were probably killed when the first gunshots were heard soon after 9am.

Police moved out dozens of residents from Kanalweg - where the apartment is situated - and
the streets leading to it, giving space for snipers to move in.

The man barricaded his flat with furniture.

SEK officers stormed the apartment shortly after midday when they detected a smell of
smoke coming from the apartment.

There was no police gunfight gunfight with the hostage taker - he and his victims were
already dead.