Police on Friday said a hostage situation in the western German town of Sinzig had ended peacefully, with no injuries. 

The incident sparked a large-scale police operation involving special forces and hundreds of officers.

Police said the suspected perpetrator was still at large.

Officers said two hostages locked in a vault room were freed unharmed.

What do we know about the incident?

Police were called to the bank branch on Friday morning after reports several people had been taken hostage.

Among the hostages was the driver of a cash transport vehicle.

A man, reportedly wearing a white jumpsuit described as "similar to a beekeeper's suit," reportedly approached the employee outside the bank at about 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT/UTC), threatened him, and seized a container of cash.

He then allegedly locked two people inside a separate room in the bank and fled before police arrived.

Authorities sealed off the entire downtown area and called in special forces, who gave the all-clear after midday. 

"Special forces entered the bank and found two people inside, apparently unharmed, who had been locked in a room," police spokesman Jürgen Fachinger said.

According to the police, no customers were among the hostages. 

Deputy Mayor Hans-Werner Adams said it was a relief "the nightmare is over."

Police said they had no direct contact with the suspect.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn, Dmytro Hubenko