This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6501695.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gunmen seize bus in Philippines | Gunmen seize bus in Philippines |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| At least two men have taken at least 30 children and several teachers hostage on a bus near the centre of the Philippines capital Manila, police say. | At least two men have taken at least 30 children and several teachers hostage on a bus near the centre of the Philippines capital Manila, police say. |
| Special police have surrounded the bus and are negotiating with the hostage-takers, who said they were armed with guns and grenades. | Special police have surrounded the bus and are negotiating with the hostage-takers, who said they were armed with guns and grenades. |
| One of the men told a local radio station that they were seeking education for a group of children. | One of the men told a local radio station that they were seeking education for a group of children. |
| TV pictures showed children on the bus waving, but they appeared unharmed. | TV pictures showed children on the bus waving, but they appeared unharmed. |
| The children, from a day-care centre in a poor district of the capital, were reportedly on a tour of Manila. | The children, from a day-care centre in a poor district of the capital, were reportedly on a tour of Manila. |
| Radio station | Radio station |
| One of the men, who identified himself as Jun Ducat, told a radio station via his mobile phone that they were seeking education and housing for 145 children from the day-care centre. | One of the men, who identified himself as Jun Ducat, told a radio station via his mobile phone that they were seeking education and housing for 145 children from the day-care centre. |
| In pictures: Hostage crisis | |
| "I love these children, that's why I am here," he said. "I will not start any shooting." | "I love these children, that's why I am here," he said. "I will not start any shooting." |
| A local politician, Senator Ramon Revilla, got onto the bus to try to persuade the gunmen to surrender. | |
| The men are said to have told police via messages on cardboard that they possessed an Uzi assault rifle, a revolver and two grenades. | The men are said to have told police via messages on cardboard that they possessed an Uzi assault rifle, a revolver and two grenades. |
| "Hopefully we can convince the hostage-takers," Gen Reynaldo Varilla, head of the national capital region police command, told local radio. | "Hopefully we can convince the hostage-takers," Gen Reynaldo Varilla, head of the national capital region police command, told local radio. |
| "I have instructions to ensure no one gets hurt." | "I have instructions to ensure no one gets hurt." |
| Initial reports had suggested the men had stormed the bus, but a police official, Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa, said that was not the case. | Initial reports had suggested the men had stormed the bus, but a police official, Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa, said that was not the case. |
| "They were already inside the bus when it left [the day-care centre]," he said. | "They were already inside the bus when it left [the day-care centre]," he said. |
| This is the second hostage situation in Manila in two weeks. On 14 March, a marine took four people hostage in a court over an eviction issue. | This is the second hostage situation in Manila in two weeks. On 14 March, a marine took four people hostage in a court over an eviction issue. |