A 31-year-old homeless man, dressed in combat uniform and armed with multiple guns and a bow, is being chased by about 100 police officers in a forest in Germany where he has taken refuge.

The hunt is now on its second day in Oppenau in the southwestern parts of the country. The police use special forces, helicopters and track dogs.

Disappeared from the scene

The hunt for him began last Sunday. Four police officers were dispatched to a place in the woods, following an alert about a man who was behaving suspiciously at a hut. At first, the man cooperated, but suddenly pointed his gun at the police and forced them to hand over their service weapons. He then disappeared from the scene, police confirm to the newspaper Bild.

- Suddenly he pulled his gun and aimed at the officials. Completely surprised by the situation, they had no choice but to respond to the dangerous situation, police spokeswoman Wolfgang Kramer told the newspaper.

If the guns were fully charged, this means that the man also has access to 64 cartridges.

Known by police

The man is known by the judiciary since before, including for illegal weapons possession and for shooting his girlfriend with arrow and bow.

Bild writes that he lived in a local guesthouse for three years, but that he was evicted about a year ago because he did not pay his rent on time. Several weapons and petrol cans were found in the apartment after he was evicted.