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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. | |
Police were called to malt supplier French and Jupps 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. | |
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 ended at about 1325 BST, with no-one hurt when the hostage-taker surrendered, a police spokesman said. | |
Hertfordshire Police said a search for weapons was under way and workers at businesses which were evacuated have been able to return. | |
'Village sealed-off' | |
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. | |
"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 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." |