Student hostages released unharmed in Germany

? A teenager brandishing a pistol seized four youngsters Friday at a school in southwestern Germany and demanded $1 million ransom. Hours later, he surrendered after freeing the hostages unharmed, police said.

After the standoff ended about 9:20 p.m. at the school in Waiblingen, near Stuttgart, police said the weapon turned out to be an air pistol, which fires pellets that can cause serious injury or kill at close range. They also said the teen had outfitted himself with a bulletproof vest.

The hostage-taker had told police by cell phone he wanted $1 million and a getaway car, police said.

After about five hours, the teen released one hostage in return for a pizza and then another in return for a cell phone and a chance to call someone.

He let the two others go about an hour later and was arrested.

About 100 students were in the Friedensschule, or Peace School, when the 16-year-old former student walked in and sat down in a second-floor computer room around 2:30 p.m., witnesses and police said. Minutes later, he stood up and pulled out a handgun, they said.

Students said he warned them to remain calm and then gave a mobile phone number to a teacher. He sent her and all but four students out of the room and made them close the curtains before calling police.

Greek pupil Atanasios Gianzios, center, is accompanied by his father, Christus, left, and mother, Nicoletta, after being released by a teenage gunman at his school in Waiblingen, Germany. Atanasios was one of four youngsters taken hostage Friday at the school. All hostages were released unharmed.

Some 200 police and 30 Red Cross workers surrounded the school.

Police said he had planned the attack well in advance and had read a book on hostage-taking. He had boasted to other students about a plan to take hostages, but nobody took it seriously, police said.

There were conflicting police versions on the teen’s motive. One report said that he mentioned “debts” that he had. Another was that he wanted to be noticed.

The hostages were sixth-graders, around 12 years old, police said.