Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Canada hostage taking ends peacefully

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-10-22 13:24

Police surround the Worker's Compensation Building where a gunman is holding hostages in Edmonton October 21, 2009. [Agencies]

Hostage taking in western Canada ends peacefully

OTTAWA: The man who took hostage of several people in a building in the western Canadian city of Edmonton earlier Wednesday has surrendered, ending the event peacefully, police confirmed.

"All hostages were unharmed" in the 10-hour-long event, Edmonton police spokesman Dean Parthenis told reporters.

Related readings:  Iraq confirms two UK hostages killed  2 bodies of British hostages passed by Iraqi authorities to Britain  CNN: 167 passengers released, 7 held hostages in Jamaica  Hostages held at knifepoint saved  2 escape French prison, take hostages, recaptured

Police have not released the exact number of hostages that were held, but there were reports saying nine people were taken by the armed man.

The commotion started about 8:45 in the morning local time (1445 GMT) Wednesday when police received a call about a man armed with a rifle barging into the Worker's Compensation Board building, located in downtown Edmonton, provincial capital of Alberta.

Police arrived soon later and help withdraw most of the workers. Tactical officers and negotiation team were on the scene prepared for patient, prolonged talks with the man.

The man was said to be holding the hostages on the eighth floor of the building, located just near the Alberta legislature.

Several streets in the area were closed and the public were advised to stay away. Ambulances, fire trucks and police cars parked around the area.

The Workers' Compensation Board confirmed the hostage taker is a disgruntled workers' compensation claimant.

   Previous page 1 2 Next Page  

   Previous page 1 2 Next Page