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Man quizzed over hostage taking Man quizzed over hostage taking
(about 1 hour later)
A man has been arrested after a three hour armed siege in Hertfordshire. A man has been arrested after a three-hour armed siege in Hertfordshire.
A man, believed to be a delivery driver, was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment after what police called a "hostage situation". Police were called to malt supplier French and Jupps in Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbots, at about 1030 BST.
Police were called to a company in Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbots, at about 1030 BST. Witnesses said up to six hostages were taken initially at a shop on the site by a man carrying a knife and a gun.
No-one was hurt in the incident, which ended after three hours. A search for weapons has got under way, a police spokeswoman said. However, the man soon let five of them go but refused to release a woman in her 30s. Police finally talked him out and he is being questioned.
The siege took place at the firm French and Jupps Ltd and ended when a man, thought to be aged in his 30s, surrendered to officers, police said. The siege ended at about 1325 BST, with no-one hurt when the hostage-taker surrendered, a police spokesman said.
'Six hostages' Hertfordshire Police said a search for weapons was under way and workers at businesses which were evacuated have been able to return.
Workers at surrounding businesses, which were evacuated, have now been told they can return. 'Village sealed-off'
Guy Horlock, chairman of French and Jupps Ltd, said: "The incident took place in a sub-let shop unit in the maltings building." Guy Horlock, chairman of French and Jupps, said the woman held by the man works at a clothing company which rents a shop unit on the site.
Mr Horlock said a woman aged in her 30s who runs a clothing company was held hostage by a man carrying a gun and a knife.
"She was threatened but she is OK, I gather. She was taken by the police," Mr Horlock said."She was threatened but she is OK, I gather. She was taken by the police," Mr Horlock said.
"There were about six hostages altogether but he released quite a lot early on.""There were about six hostages altogether but he released quite a lot early on."
Mr Horlock said the Hertfordshire village was "sealed-off" by police officers during the siege.Mr Horlock said the Hertfordshire village was "sealed-off" by police officers during the siege.
"You have never seen so many police in your life. Stanstead Abbots was absolutely sealed off - there were armed police everywhere," he said."You have never seen so many police in your life. Stanstead Abbots was absolutely sealed off - there were armed police everywhere," he said.
"It's astonishing that something like this would happen in Hertfordshire. It's certainly never happened before." "It's astonishing that something like this would happen in Hertfordshire. It has certainly never happened before."
Kim Garrad, 50, who works in a neighbouring office, said "We heard a kafuffle at around 10 this morning.
"Someone was held at knife and gunpoint. People were running about away from the unit.
"After about 20 minutes the police arrived. They were wearing body armour and carrying guns, shields and truncheons."