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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Man quizzed over hostage taking | Man quizzed over hostage taking |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| A man has been arrested after five women were held hostage in a three-hour armed siege in Hertfordshire. | A man has been arrested after five women were held hostage in a three-hour armed siege in Hertfordshire. |
| Police were called to malt supplier French and Jupps in Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts, at about 1030 BST. | |
| Two men were also held at a shop on the site by a man, thought to be a delivery driver, with a knife and a gun but soon released, a police spokeswoman said. | Two men were also held at a shop on the site by a man, thought to be a delivery driver, with a knife and a gun but soon released, a police spokeswoman said. |
| Three women were still being held when the hostage taker surrendered and all were unhurt, the spokeswoman added. | Three women were still being held when the hostage taker surrendered and all were unhurt, the spokeswoman added. |
| Hertfordshire Police said a search for weapons was under way and workers at businesses which were evacuated have been able to return. | 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' | 'Village sealed-off' |
| Guy Horlock, chairman of French and Jupps, said one woman who was held hostage works at a clothing company which rents a shop unit on the site. | Guy Horlock, chairman of French and Jupps, said one woman who was held hostage 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 Abbotts 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." | "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. | 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. | "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." | "After about 20 minutes the police arrived. They were wearing body armour and carrying guns, shields and truncheons." |