Up to five people have been taken hostage in a post office in a small town in the US state of Virginia, say police reports.
Five people have been taken hostage in a post office in the US by a man in a wheelchair claiming to be carrying explosives, say reports.
Local media reports said the alleged hostage taker was in a wheelchair and claimed to be carrying explosives.
Local media reports say grenades have been found in the man's vehicle parked outside the post office in Wytheville.
There were also reports that grenades were found in his vehicle nearby.
The town mayor of Wytheville, Trent Crewe, told the Associated Press news agency the man had fired shots from the building but no injuries were reported.
The town mayor of Wytheville, Trent Crewe, told the Associated Press news agency shots had been fired from the building but no injuries were reported.
Police are at the scene and people have been told to evacuate the area.
AP said a team of special police and an explosives expert were at the scene.
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".
Police have cordoned off the scene and advised people to evacuate homes and businesses in the immediate area.
Police have cordoned off the scene and advised people to evacuate homes and businesses in the immediate area.
"It's completely surrounded by police in every direction," said town manager Wayne Sutherland, speaking from his office nearby.
"It's completely surrounded by police in every direction," said town manager Wayne Sutherland, speaking from his office nearby.
"All I can see is blue lights," he told AP.
"All I can see is blue lights," he told AP.
A police hostage negotiator was reported to have been speaking to the man.
A police hostage negotiator was reported to have been speaking to the man.
Pete Rendina, spokesman for the US Postal Inspection Service, said the man, who was missing part of his leg, had made no demands other than a request for a pizza.
Pete Rendina, spokesman for the US Postal Inspection Service, said the man, who was missing part of his leg, had made no demands other than a request for a pizza.
Three employees and two members of the public were believed to be inside the post office.
Three employees and two members of the public were believed to be inside the post office.
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