A major police investigation is underway to determine what sparked a false alarm at a Berlin school that saw students 'barricaded' for almost five hours.
Emergency services swarmed the scene at the Max Taut Schule in the German capital and have been searching the school after an alarm was triggered just after 10am on Friday.
Reports online claimed students 'barricaded' inside classrooms were banned from talking, were crying and afraid.
One student said he locked himself inside the toilets.
Police searched the premises and told parents to gather nearby as they led classes out of the building, one at a time.
Now, officers are assuming the incident was a 'false alarm'.
Polizei Berlin have tweeted: "We always take an amok alarm seriously. The school and our emergency services must always proceed as in an emergency.
"We ask for your understanding & thank you for your patience. How it came to the false alarm is now being determined."
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Officers had asked people nearby not to leave their homes as the scene was cordoned off.
Photographs from the scene show armed police and a large number of firefighters with reports saying officers from a special task force were on site.
One person claimed on social media: "A client of mine is at school. About 40 minutes ago, the students should barricade themselves inside the rooms. Talking is prohibited.
"Everyone is afraid. Some students cry. Police can be seen on the roof and in front of the house."
An 18-year-old believed to be a student tweeted: "We are in school and we have barricaded ourselves, can anyone give more details about the situation outside?"
Another said: "My son also just wrote to me. The children have locked themselves in the rooms and do not know anything themselves."
"So far there has been no confirmation," a police spokeswoman earlier told Der Tagesspiegel.
"We are on site with emergency services and get an overview of the situation."
The alarm was initially reported to be triggered by the school principal but police have now said this is not the case.
Police told RTL.DE : "The police take such alarm signals very seriously and have therefore sent the forces to check the situation and search the school."
Police then tweeted: "We are still with various colleagues around the Max Taut-OSZ in Rummelsburg as well as in the area and are in contact with the school management.
"So far, no causes for the alarm have been identified. A false alarm cannot be ruled out either."
A further update by police told students officers were making good progress.
Police said: "Be patient, please stay in the class. To be on the safe side, please do not post pictures of the rooms on social media!"
The fire brigade has been at the scene with 25 firefighters.
Berliner Feuerwehr tweeted: "Currently we are with 25 people together with the @polizeiberlin at a Schule in Rummelsburg in action.
"The situation is currently being investigated. More information will follow ..."
