Five 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.
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.
Local media reports say the man had a wheelchair and that grenades were found in his vehicle, parked outside the post office in Wytheville.
Local media reports say the man had a wheelchair and that grenades were found in his vehicle, parked outside the post office in Wytheville.
The man fired shots from the post office but no-one was reported to have been injured.
The man fired shots from the post office but no-one was reported to have been injured.
Police are speaking to the man and have told local people to leave the area.
Police are speaking to the man and have told local people to leave the area.
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.
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 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.
"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'
'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 have 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".
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.
"All I can see is blue lights," he told AP.
Three employees and two members of the public were believed to be inside the post office.
Relatives of the hostages said they had managed to speak to them by telephone to confirm they were unharmed.
Relatives of the hostages said they had managed to speak to them by telephone to confirm they were unharmed.
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