Hamburg airport was closed to passengers and flights were axed after a car broke through security and entered the premises, German news agency dpa has reported.
An armed man broke through a gate with his car and fired twice into the air with a weapon, federal police said.
The man's wife had called police about a possible child abduction, the force added.
The gunman had two children in the car, several local German media have reported.
A large number of officers from state and federal police were on site and in the vicinity of the vehicle, federal police spokesman Thomas Gerbert told dpa.
Hamburg Police posted on social media saying there was a "major police operation" at the airport "with a large contingent of emergency services. We are currently assuming a static hostage situation."
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