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The blue light of a patrol car in use in Cologne
Photo: Ralph Peters / imago images / Ralph Peters
In the southern part of Cologne, a man with an assault rifle is said to have been out on the streets in the early hours of the morning on Sunday.
The police then searched areas of the southern part of the city and blocked roads.
The police said that parts of local public transport had also been cordoned off for three hours.
The man could not be found despite a large-scale search by special forces, security service and riot police.
The road closures were lifted after about four hours.
Lost touch
The information went back to a young woman who reported shortly before three o'clock that she had seen a man with an assault rifle near Chlodwigplatz.
Then she lost sight of the man.
Further information has not yet been received, said a spokesman.
The police are now looking for witnesses.
According to the police report, the man was described as about 25 to 30 years old and about 1.70 meters tall.
He wore light long sweatpants, a dark jacket and shoulder-length dark hair.
mrc / dpa