The police said separately on social media platform X that they were conducting a large operation and were assuming a ‘static hostage situation’ (Picture: AP)

Hamburg Airport has been closed to passengers and flights cancelled after a gunman rammed through a security barrier.

Police said the driver’s wife had previously called to warn of a possible child abduction, while several local German media reported two children in the back of his car.

After firing twice into the air, the man hurled two burning bottles out of the vehicle, they added.

The police said separately on social media platform X that they were conducting a large operation and were assuming a ‘static hostage situation’.

Police guard the scene of a security breach at the Hamburg Airport (Picture: AP)

They wrote: ‘According to findings, a car got onto the apron of the airport around 8pm.

‘There are at least 2 people in the vehicle, including a child. We continue to assume a hostage situation. The situation is static.’

Police later added: ‘We are currently assuming that a custody dispute is the background to the operation. The LKA (Landeskriminalamt – or State Criminal Police Office) negotiating group and psychologists are on site.

‘There is contact with the person in the vehicle.’

A spokesperson for the airport said 27 flights had been affected. 

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Police said the driver’s wife had previously called to warn of a possible child abduction.