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Man reportedly armed with explosives takes hostage captive in Bunbury Man reportedly armed with explosives takes hostage captive in Bunbury
(35 minutes later)
Heavily armed officers have converged on a Bunbury park where a man known to police has been holding someone hostage since Thursday evening. Heavily armed officers have converged on a park in Bunbury, WA, where a man known to police has been holding someone hostage since Thursday evening.
An armoured vehicle is also at the scene near the corner of Koombana Drive and Blair Street in Bunbury, about 170km southwest of Perth. An armoured vehicle was also at the scene near the corner of Koombana Drive and Blair Street in Bunbury, about 170km southwest of Perth.
The Seven Network has shown footage of the man kneeling over his hostage on the ground in the park on the shore of the bay, with police nearby.The Seven Network has shown footage of the man kneeling over his hostage on the ground in the park on the shore of the bay, with police nearby.
The man has a large banner with “Police release Batty Archibald CCC report” written on it. The scene is cordoned off and members of the public have been urged to stay away. The man had a large banner with “Police release Batty Archibald CCC report” written on it. The scene is cordoned off and members of the public were urged to stay away.
A police negotiator has used a megaphone to communicate with the hostage taker, urging him to consider how his hostage was feeling and to end the situation peacefully. She told the man that the media was present, and had seen his banner. A police negotiator used a megaphone to communicate with the hostage taker, urging him to consider how his hostage was feeling and to end the situation peacefully. She told the man the media was present, and had seen his banner. Negotiations had been going on through the night, police said.
It is believed the hostage is not known to the man who is holding him against his will.“At this stage, we don’t believe there is any relationship between the pair and we believe that person was identified randomly and, yes, that is a concern,” Commander Alf Fordham told reporters. It is believed the hostage was not known to the man, who was holding him against his will. Police said the hostage-taker was 52.“At this stage, we don’t believe there is any relationship between the pair and we believe that person was identified randomly and, yes, that is a concern,” Commander Alf Fordham told reporters.
Police have sent a robot closer to the hostage taker. Fordham said authorities were exercising a “high degree of safety” and all appropriate precautions had been taken.
Police have not confirmed media reports that the man may be armed with explosives or a gas cylinder. He said the hostage appeared to be OK.
“We have concerns for one person in the vicinity of this man, who we are trying to negotiate with,” WA Police spokesman Sam Dinnison said earlier. “I’m sure he’s very cold. But he’s up and walking around and appears to be quite fine.”
“Members of the Tactical Response Group are on the site and they are dealing with the situation.” Fordham said the situation was contained to the park, and warned Bunbury residents to stay away as traffic around the scene would be disrupted.
“Our intention from the outset has been to resolve it safely for all parties involved.”
Police sent a robot closer to the hostage taker, but would not confirm media reports that the man might be armed with explosives or a gas cylinder.