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Venezuelan hostage-takers caught | |
(30 minutes later) | |
Four gunmen who held up a Venezuelan bank and took more than 30 people hostage before escaping in an ambulance have been captured by police. | |
The gang surrendered and five captives they took with them were freed, Guarico state Governor Eduardo Manuitt said. | |
Police agreed to the gang's escape plan to help end a two-day standoff in the town of Altagracia de Orituco, south-east of the capital, Caracas. | |
The authorities had promised the gang they would not follow the ambulance. | |
Governor Manuitt said the "nightmare" was over. | |
"The important part of this was saving the lives of the hostages," he said. | |
"They threatened to start killing the hostages in 20 minutes, and for that reason they were allowed to leave for an unknown location to the west." | "They threatened to start killing the hostages in 20 minutes, and for that reason they were allowed to leave for an unknown location to the west." |
Siege | Siege |
He added that the five captives had volunteered to go with the gunmen, who had promised to leave them along the way. | |
Justice Minister Ramon Rodriguez Chacin said the gunmen were in their early 20s and had been taking drugs, which made the situation particularly volatile. | Justice Minister Ramon Rodriguez Chacin said the gunmen were in their early 20s and had been taking drugs, which made the situation particularly volatile. |
But freed hostage Juan Carlos Gil said apart from threats to kill a security guard, their treatment was "excellent". | But freed hostage Juan Carlos Gil said apart from threats to kill a security guard, their treatment was "excellent". |
"After five or six hours, they began to let down their guard saying, 'You aren't going to die'," said the 19-year-old. | "After five or six hours, they began to let down their guard saying, 'You aren't going to die'," said the 19-year-old. |
"They were nervous, but it was all an atmosphere as if they were everyone's friends." | "They were nervous, but it was all an atmosphere as if they were everyone's friends." |
She's very brave. I know she's going to come out of this fine Jasmin Gonzalez,mother of hostage | She's very brave. I know she's going to come out of this fine Jasmin Gonzalez,mother of hostage |
It is still unclear how many hostages were left behind. The gunmen had released several hostages during the siege, while two managed to escape. | It is still unclear how many hostages were left behind. The gunmen had released several hostages during the siege, while two managed to escape. |
Bank executive Leon Enrique Cottin claimed there were 33 hostages, but Governor Manuitt said 50 were being released, including several children and a pregnant woman. | Bank executive Leon Enrique Cottin claimed there were 33 hostages, but Governor Manuitt said 50 were being released, including several children and a pregnant woman. |
Hundreds of relatives had gathered outside the Banco Provincial and some of those freed were led to waiting ambulances, but there no reports of injuries. | Hundreds of relatives had gathered outside the Banco Provincial and some of those freed were led to waiting ambulances, but there no reports of injuries. |
Pleas | Pleas |
The standoff in the quiet farming town began on Monday morning following a botched robbery. | |
It is understood the gunmen, armed with pistols and a hand grenade, were surprised by a uniformed police officer who pulled up to use the cash machine. | It is understood the gunmen, armed with pistols and a hand grenade, were surprised by a uniformed police officer who pulled up to use the cash machine. |
During the night, the gunmen had accepted a package with nappies and a bottle for a two-week-old baby. | During the night, the gunmen had accepted a package with nappies and a bottle for a two-week-old baby. |
On Tuesday, hostages held up handwritten help signs at the bank's windows, and used mobile phones to call and send text messages to their families. | On Tuesday, hostages held up handwritten help signs at the bank's windows, and used mobile phones to call and send text messages to their families. |
One of the hostages said to have gone with the robbers is 25-year-old bank teller Vanessa Saavedra. | One of the hostages said to have gone with the robbers is 25-year-old bank teller Vanessa Saavedra. |
Speaking outside the bank, her distraught mother Jasmin Gonzalez told the AP news agency: "She's very brave. I know she's going to come out of this fine." | Speaking outside the bank, her distraught mother Jasmin Gonzalez told the AP news agency: "She's very brave. I know she's going to come out of this fine." |
Before the gunmen escaped, Ms Saavedra spoke to Colombia's Caracol Radio. | Before the gunmen escaped, Ms Saavedra spoke to Colombia's Caracol Radio. |
She said: "We don't want them to shoot... We don't want them to open fire." | She said: "We don't want them to shoot... We don't want them to open fire." |
Security cameras captured images of the gunmen until they were cut-off and the footage has been handed to the authorities. | Security cameras captured images of the gunmen until they were cut-off and the footage has been handed to the authorities. |