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.
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.
Authorities persuaded the man to give himself up and release three people he was holding.
Authorities persuaded Warren Taylor to give himself up and release three people he was holding.
The man had a wheelchair with him and claimed to be carrying explosives.
Mr Taylor was reported to have entered the post office pushing a wheelchair and claiming to be carrying explosives.
The man entered the building on Wednesday afternoon and initially fired shots, but no-one was reported to have been injured.
He initially fired shots from the building but no-one was reported to have been injured.
"We're just grateful it ended peacefully," the Associated Press news agency quoted Police Sgt Michael Conroy as saying.
"This is just the best outcome we could hope for."
Earlier reports said the suspect was holding five people but some of those were later accounted for.
Earlier reports said the suspect was holding five people but some of those were later 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 Conroy of the Virginia State Police said Mr Taylor entered the post office at about 1430 local time (1930 GMT).
The hostage taker was initially thought to have been wheelchair-bound but witnesses said he was walking around inside the post office.
Police negotiated with him by telephone but he made no demands other than a request for a pizza, said Pete Rendina, spokesman for the US Postal Inspection Service.
Pete Rendina, spokesman for the US Postal Inspection Service, said the man had made no demands other than a request for a pizza.
Mr Taylor is reported to have told police he had a military background.
Police cordoned off the scene and advised people to evacuate homes and businesses in the immediate area.
'Explosives device'
Local media reported the hostage taker was in a wheelchair, although witnesses later said they saw him walking inside the building. He emerged from the post office in the chair.
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Sergeant Michael Conroy of Virginia State Police described the hostage crisis
The town's mayor, Trent Crewe, told reporters police had been "acting on the assumption there is an explosive device of some kind in some location".
Police had 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".
However Sgt Conroy said no explosives had yet been found on the man or in the building.
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