A major riot has broken out at a special clinic for mentally ill criminals in Bedburg-Hau, a town in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Axar.az, citing Bild, reports that the incident began this morning when a 27-year-old patient with a history of violent behavior began destroying property inside the facility and barricaded himself in. The individual was reportedly intoxicated and behaving with extreme aggression. It remains unclear how alcohol was smuggled into the secure facility.

The situation escalated as other patients joined the uprising. At least five individuals set furniture on fire and erected barricades. A fire broke out inside the building, prompting some staff members to flee. Evacuation efforts for remaining personnel are ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility that hostages may have been taken.

Special police units from multiple cities in the region, including hostage crisis intervention teams, have been deployed to the scene. Armored vehicles have surrounded the building, and special forces are being airlifted in by helicopter.

A special operations truck equipped with a mobile ramp has also been brought in to enable police to access the building through the roof.