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Hostage stand-off in Dutch city Arrest ends Dutch hostage siege
(about 1 hour later)
An armed man has taken at least four people hostage in the city hall in the Dutch city of Almelo, about 150km (100 miles) east of Amsterdam, reports say. Dutch police have arrested an armed man who took at least four people hostage in the Dutch city of Almelo, about 150km (100 miles) east of Amsterdam.
A city council member and three others were reported to be among those being held by the owner of a restaurant. The siege took place in Almelo's city hall. The man had reportedly been in a dispute with city officials after losing his restaurant licence.
The man had recently lost his restaurant licence, the national broadcaster NOS said. A city council member was reported to be among the hostages.
According to one report, he set his car on fire in front of the city hall, then slipped in as it created a diversion. He was reported to have set his restaurant on fire before driving to the city hall and burning his car too.
His restaurant was also reported to have been burned down - TV pictures showed firefighters battling the flames in a cafe building. While city hall officials were distracted by the fire, the man apparently slipped into the building.
Dutch media said about 50 employees were escorted from the city hall by police at about 1200 GMT, about three hours after the stand-off began.Dutch media said about 50 employees were escorted from the city hall by police at about 1200 GMT, about three hours after the stand-off began.
Police have sealed off the area and said they were trying to contact the man. Police sealed off the area and said they were trying to contact the man.
Later they reported that he had been arrested, but declined to give any more details.
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