Stuttgart siege: Two dead after '100 armed police storm hostage situation' at law firm

Five hour stand-off ends after special forces called in

German police attending a hostage situation in Vierheim, Germany last month (Getty Images)

Two people are dead after police stormed a hostage situation at the office of a law firm in Stuttgart, Germany, according to local reports.

When police arrived both the gunman and hostage were found dead with gunshot wounds in the basement of the building, according to Bild.

Around 100 police, including special riot officers, have cordoned off the area in the east of the city, and nearby transport hubs have been closed.

Officials were informed by a witness who first reported the incident via telephone, according to the Stuttgarter Zeitung.

Witnesses reportedly heard shots, but police could not confirm this.

The incident is taking place in an upscale residential area in the east Stuttgart.

Stuttgart Police said in a statement during the siege: "At the moment there is an uncertain threat situation in the area of Gerokstraße in eastern Stuttgart.

"A woman has watched a man in a neighbour's house at around 1pm, who was handling a firearm and who might have released a shot.

"The area has been locked down. Special forces are employed.

"Police ask people in the area to stay away from windows and doors to not endanger themselves. Traffic is massively affected."

The region's transport network, VVS GmbH, said the Olgaeck - Ruhbank route was closed due to a "police operation".

Last month, a masked gunman was shot dead after opening fire at a cinema in Vierheim, east Germany, after taking a number of hostages.

Stuttgart, the sixth largest city in Germany, is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg.