UPDATE 2 - Germany: Police rescue woman held hostage in Cologne

UPDATES WITH POLICE STATEMENT, EDITS THROUGHOUT; CHANGES HEADLINE

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - German police rescued a woman who was held hostage by an armed man at a pharmacy inside Cologne’s main railway station on Monday.

Cologne police said on Twitter the hostage taker was seriously injured in the rescue operation, while the hostage sustained light injuries.

The suspect’s motive was not immediately clear.

Earlier, a large area around Cologne Central Station was closed off by the police, after witnesses informed of a hostage-taking situation.

The train station was completely closed as a precaution, and authorities had urged the public to stay away from the Breslauer Square.

The police is expected to hold a news conference later on Monday.

Anadolu Agency will update this developing story.