RADU SIGHETI
A police operation involving helicopters and hundreds of officers was launched in Berlin overnight to find an animal—believed to be an escaped lion—which had still not been found as of Thursday morning.
Authorities advised residents on the southwestern edge of the German capital to stay indoors and to lock up their pets while the hunt for the big cat continued. “We are currently working on the assumption that the animal is a lioness,” a Brandenburg Police spokesperson told Reuters.
Early Thursday, the agency warned locals in the towns of Kleinmachnow, Teltow, and Stahnsdorf to remain inside their homes due to the threat posed by “an escaped wild animal.” Hours later, law enforcement issued an update to say the animal “has NOT been found yet” and reiterated the advice to stay indoors. The public was also urged to call an emergency line if they saw the beast.