The 31-year-old has been on the run since Sunday morning in Oppenau, the Black Forest.

According to police, the man threatened four officers with a firearm during a police check, took their service weapons from them and fled into the forest. Since then, a massive search has been underway for the man.

UPDATE: What you need to know about German police 'Rambo'-style Black Forest manhunt

People in the area have been urged to stay at home and remain cautious.

“Stay at home if possible and do not pick up hitchhikers,” said a police spokeswoman on Monday morning. It is not known how dangerous the man could be.

Police have closed roads in the search. Along with special forces, helicopters have also been deployed.

Suspicious man 'with bow and arrow'

On Sunday morning police were informed that a suspicious man was staying at a hut. When four officers found him there, they reportedly found that he was armed with a bow and arrow, a knife and a pistol. He is said to have been cooperative at first.

“Suddenly, and completely unexpectedly for the officers, he pulled out a firearm and threatened the investigators, leaving them no time to react to the dangerous situation,” the police reported late on Sunday.

Then the man is said to have threatened the officers and asked them to put down their pistols. He then made his escape, “presumably with the service weapons”. None of the police officers were injured.

The 31-year-old man is said to be wearing clothes with a camouflage pattern and, according to the police, has no fixed address. He has already come into contact with the police on previous occasions including for violations of weapon laws.