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| Alabama hostage standoff for five-year-old continues | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| A standoff between Alabama police and a man who has taken a five-year-old boy hostage has entered a third day. | |
| The gunman, named by neighbours as Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, boarded a school bus and allegedly killed the driver before taking the boy. | |
| The suspect, a retired lorry driver, is not believed to be related to the five-year-old. | |
| The incident began in Midland City on Tuesday afternoon when the bus driver refused to hand over the child. | The incident began in Midland City on Tuesday afternoon when the bus driver refused to hand over the child. |
| Mr Dykes is holding the youngster at his remote home, police said. | |
| Suspect 'menaced neighbours' | Suspect 'menaced neighbours' |
| According to witnesses, the attack began when the school bus stopped to let off two children. | According to witnesses, the attack began when the school bus stopped to let off two children. |
| Mr Dykes grabbed the door so it could not close and came on board, demanding two boys aged six and eight. | Mr Dykes grabbed the door so it could not close and came on board, demanding two boys aged six and eight. |
| When the 66-year-old driver, Charles Albert Poland, blocked the bus aisle with his arm, Mr Dykes fired four shots, killing him. | When the 66-year-old driver, Charles Albert Poland, blocked the bus aisle with his arm, Mr Dykes fired four shots, killing him. |
| Church Pastor Michael Senn, who comforted the children after the incident, was quoted by AP news agency as saying: "As far as we know there is no relation at all. He just wanted a child for a hostage situation." | Church Pastor Michael Senn, who comforted the children after the incident, was quoted by AP news agency as saying: "As far as we know there is no relation at all. He just wanted a child for a hostage situation." |
| County Coroner Woodrow Hilboldt said Mr Dykes was believed to be hiding in something similar to a tornado bunker. | County Coroner Woodrow Hilboldt said Mr Dykes was believed to be hiding in something similar to a tornado bunker. |
| The bunker had food and electricity, and the boy was watching television, said law enforcement officials. | The bunker had food and electricity, and the boy was watching television, said law enforcement officials. |
| The authorities lowered medicine at one point into the bunker for the boy, with the kidnapper's agreement. | The authorities lowered medicine at one point into the bunker for the boy, with the kidnapper's agreement. |
| It was not clear if the suspect had any demands. | It was not clear if the suspect had any demands. |
| Nearby houses were evacuated when police discovered what they believed to be a bomb on his property. | Nearby houses were evacuated when police discovered what they believed to be a bomb on his property. |
| According to court records, Mr Dykes was due to appear in court on Wednesday for menacing neighbours as they drove past his house some weeks ago. | According to court records, Mr Dykes was due to appear in court on Wednesday for menacing neighbours as they drove past his house some weeks ago. |
| Neighbour Patricia Smith said her children, who were on the bus, had run into Mr Dykes several months ago. | |
| "My bulldogs got loose and went over there," she said. "The children went to get them. He threatened to shoot them if they came back." |