Several people have been taken hostage at a post office in a small town in the US state of Virginia, by a man claiming to be carrying explosives, say reports.
A man suspected of taking hostages in a post office in the US state of Virginia has been arrested after a stand-off lasting several hours, police say.
Local media reports say the man had a wheelchair and that grenades were found in his vehicle, parked outside the post office in Wytheville.
Authorities persuaded the man to give himself up and release three people he was holding.
The man fired shots from the post office but no-one was reported to have been injured.
The man had a wheelchair with him and claimed to be carrying explosives.
Latest reports suggest three people have now left the building.
The man entered the building on Wednesday afternoon and initially fired shots, but no-one was reported to have been injured.
The authorities have not said whether the suspected hostage-taker was among those who left, but a man in a wheelchair is being questioned, the Associated Press reported.
Earlier reports said the suspect was holding five people but some of those were later accounted for.
Earlier reports said he was holding five people but some of those have since been accounted for.
A witness told CNN that he and two other employees had escaped as the situation was unfolding.
A witness told CNN that he and two other employees had escaped as the situation was unfolding.
Sgt Michael Conroy of the Virginia State Police said the man, who has not been named, entered the post office at about 1430 local time (1930 GMT).
Sgt Michael Conroy of the Virginia State Police said the man, who has not been named, entered the post office at about 1430 local time (1930 GMT).
"We do have a hostage situation," he said, adding that police and post office officials were on the scene.
"We have all available resources here and we're trying to negotiate with the individual that has the hostages," he said.
The hostage taker was initially thought to have been wheelchair-bound but witnesses said he was walking around inside the post office.
The hostage taker was initially thought to have been wheelchair-bound but witnesses said he was walking around inside the post office.
'Surrounded'
Pete Rendina, spokesman for the US Postal Inspection Service, said the man had made no demands other than a request for a pizza.
Pete Rendina, spokesman for the US Postal Inspection Service, said the man had made no demands other than a request for a pizza.
Police have cordoned off the scene and advised people to evacuate homes and businesses in the immediate area.
Police cordoned off the scene and advised people to evacuate homes and businesses in the immediate area.
Local businesswoman Susan Holman told the Wytheville Enterprise newspaper police had warned the man had "enough explosives to take out the whole block".
Local businesswoman Susan Holman told the Wytheville Enterprise newspaper police had warned the man had "enough explosives to take out the whole block".
Town manager Wayne Sutherland, speaking from his office nearby, said the post office was "completely surrounded by police in every direction".
"All I can see is blue lights," he told AP.
Relatives of the hostages said they had managed to speak to them by telephone to confirm they were unharmed.
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