German police end nightlong restaurant standoff

A 36-year-old Kurdish restaurant owner was arrested Friday in the southwestern German city of Freiburg after police stormed his restaurant to put an end to a 14-hour standoff. Local media earlier reported the man, who has a criminal record, held 12 people in his fast food restaurant Thursday, claiming he had bombs. However, local newspaper Badische Zeitung said Friday the 12 people were his relatives and friends and had apparently stayed in the restaurant voluntarily to try to calm him down. The man's motive is still unknown. Media reports said he had failed to show up at a court Thursday to face drug charges. According to police, he had repeatedly violated narcotics and weapon laws.