Shots fired at barbershop in Westerland on Sylt – one suspect arrested, second person on the run

According to initial police findings, no one was injured. "A second person is on the run," stated sources close to the investigation. Police arrested a suspect at the scene who was carrying a live firearm. "Officers arrested a suspect with a firearm," the police announced. The manhunt for the second fugitive continued into the afternoon.

Arrest and manhunt: Police searching for second person

The crime scene in the Strandstraße area was cordoned off, according to police. Several patrol cars were on standby, and the area around the shop was secured with barrier tape. Numerous passersby stopped on the busy shopping street to photograph the scene. Two officers were stationed in front of the shop's entrance, as reported by a dpa reporter.

Police stated that there is currently no danger to the public. "There is currently no danger to the public," the investigators explained. At the same time, police asked for any suspicious observations to be reported: "however, the police ask for suspicious observations to be reported." Emergency services also checked train stations and departing trains in connection with the incident; these checks were publicly announced on the X platform.

Eyewitnesses and victims: Reports from the shop

The background of the incident was initially unclear. "Why the shots were fired is currently unclear," police stated. Yazan Alayoubi, the 20-year-old brother of the shop owner, was inside the business at the time of the shooting. He described that the shooter also aimed at him and fired three shots, one of them in his direction. He was working at the cash register, took cover behind the counter, and fled into another room. He did not know the shooter, and the man was not masked.

Shop employees were interviewed individually by criminal investigators at noon. Police are investigating, among other things, suspected attempted dangerous bodily harm, property damage, and violations of the Weapons Act. The police operation and manhunt measures continued into the afternoon.

Reactions from islanders and vacationers

A vacationer from North Rhine-Westphalia, who witnessed the incident, said: "That doesn't feel good." She added: "Well, that can happen to you anywhere today." A woman from Sylt reported hearing the shots from her office. "But we wouldn't have thought it was that," said the resident. At the same time, she stated: "But I generally feel very safe on Sylt."

Daniel Schwagenscheidt, who knows the shop owner, said: "This is really atypical for Sylt, especially at this time of day. I've only known something like this from Frankfurt and haven't experienced it on Sylt yet." He pointed out that such an incident at midday on a busy shopping street on the North Sea island was unusual.

Police measures and investigation status

The incident occurred on Strandstraße in Westerland on Sylt, in the district of Nordfriesland in Schleswig-Holstein. Westerland is the main town on the island and also the place with the highest foot traffic. Police maintained a cordon around the crime scene at noon and continued operations in the afternoon while investigations into the course of events and the motive continued.

Police announced that they would continue to analyze evidence from the crime scene and interview witnesses and employees. Surveillance footage from the surrounding area and any witness statements would also be examined. Whether the arrested suspect had already been brought before an investigating judge was still unclear at the time of reporting.

According to their own statements, the authorities continued to assume that there was no immediate danger from the arrested man. The search for the second fugitive extended beyond the town of Westerland; checks at train stations and on trains were part of the manhunt strategy. The police also asked the public for information.

Several media outlets, including the German Press Agency, reported on the incident simultaneously. Reporters on site documented the cordoned-off area, the damaged shop window, and the ongoing interviews by criminal investigators. Police provided information via social networks such as the X platform and called on the public for assistance.

Background: Security situation on Sylt

Overall, much indicated that the investigations were just beginning. The exact number of shots fired was stated by the police as "at least three," and a final forensic analysis was still pending. The question of whether the barbershop was specifically targeted was also part of the ongoing investigation.

The incident sparked discussions on the island about security in tourist areas. While residents and vacationers emphasized that Sylt is generally considered safe, observers pointed out that incidents involving firearms could not be ruled out, even on the North Sea island. Police announced that they would inform the public of further findings as soon as it was tactically possible for the investigation.