Suspect dies after killing his mother and taking hostages in Dresden mall horror

German police say their 40-year-old suspect, who held a pharmacy in Dresden's central Altmarkt-Galerie district hostage, went on a rampage in the city center after executing his own 62-year-old mother

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Police solve hostage situation in Dresden

A man suspected of killing his elderly mother before rampaging through central Dresden and taking hostages is now dead.

Police had urged people to avoid the city center and evacuated Dresden's Christmas market as they attempted to contact the suspect.

German police initially said they were in contact with the suspect before announcing shortly after noon that the hostage situation was over.

"The suspect died during the operation," Dresden police later wrote on Twitter.

"The 40-year-old man suffered fatal injuries as...the hostages were freed."

Officers did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation as to whether the man was killed by police or died of self-inflicted injuries.

The incident occurred near the Altmarkt Galerie area of ​​Dresden in German Saxony (

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JW Alker/imageBROKER/REX/Shutterstock)

Locals and tourists have been urged to avoid visiting Dresden's famous Christmas market (

Picture:

Getty Images/Westend61)

Cops say they found the body of the suspect's mother in Dresden-Pohlis, about five miles from...