An armed man has taken several people hostage at a city hall in the German city of Ingolstadt, Bavaria, hours before German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to arrive for an election rally.

It is not yet clear whether the two events are connected, but the man “has a number of people at his mercy,” the police said.

It is not yet known what weapons the man might have, or what he wanted, police spokesman Guenther Beck said, adding the hostage-taker is in contact with officers by telephone.

The Old Town Hall of Ingolstadt

The hostages are reported to be in the mayor’s office on the first floor and police have cordoned off the building.

Mayor Alfred Lehmann told BILD.de: “I was in my office when suddenly the secretary came in and said there was a hostage situation. This was so at 9 clock. Then we left the building.”

Chancellor Merkel is due in the city for a late afternoon rally as Germany holds national elections on Sept. 22, and Bavaria votes in a state election a week earlier.

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