hostage-taking
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hostage-taking
The holding of one or more people (hostages) against their will in order to extort the fulfillment of certain demands.
Die Geiselnahme in der Bank dauerte mehrere Stunden und endete unblutig.
The hostage-taking in the bank lasted several hours and ended without bloodshed.
The word is made up of 'Geisel' (hostage) and 'Nahme' (an old form for taking, from 'nehmen' — to take). So it literally describes the act of taking hostages.
Die Nachrichtensender berichteten live über die Geiselnahme.
The news channels reported live on the hostage-taking.
'Die Geiselnahme' (hostage-taking) is the act. The people involved are 'die Geisel' (the hostage, the victim being held) and 'der Geiselnehmer' (the hostage-taker, the perpetrator who takes the hostage).
Der Geiselnehmer verhandelte mit der Polizei.
The hostage-taker negotiated with the police.
Common verbs in connection with 'Geiselnahme' (hostage-taking) are 'beenden' (to end), 'verhindern' (to prevent), or 'beginnen' (to begin). The location is also often named with the preposition 'in' (in).
Spezialeinheiten der Polizei konnten die Geiselnahme unblutig beenden.
Police special units were able to end the hostage-taking without bloodshed.
kidnapping / hijacking
'die Entführung' and 'die Geiselnahme' are both serious crimes in which people are controlled or held against their will. 'Entführung' emphasizes that a person is taken to another place, or that control of a vehicle is taken over. 'Geiselnahme' emphasizes that people are held so that demands will be met. The words can be confused because both can occur in the same act. If taking someone away or taking control of a vehicle is important, you say 'Entführung'. If holding people for extortion is the focus, you say 'Geiselnahme'.
Bei der Geiselnahme forderten die Täter Geld und ein Fluchtauto.
During the hostage-taking, the perpetrators demanded money and a getaway car.
Die Polizei sucht nach Zeugen der Entführung vor dem Bahnhof.
The police are looking for witnesses to the kidnapping outside the train station.