A violent drug war has erupted in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, marking a new level of organized crime.

The conflict, involving Dutch 'Mocro Mafia' and local drug gangs, stems from a failed 1.3 million euro drug deal.

Cologne police report unprecedented violence, including explosions and kidnappings.

Two hostages were rescued by special forces, with authorities fearing the use of machine guns.

Police director Michael Esser warns of potential harm to bystanders, drawing parallels to the Netherlands where such violence is more common.

The escalation has alarmed security agencies, raising concerns about the spread of Dutch-style drug violence in Germany.