Portuguese hostage drama ends without injury

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Thursday October 5, 2006

Lisbon- A 13-hour hostage drama during which an armed robber held four people captive in a Portuguese bank ended with police storming the building, police said. Police in the town of Setubal south of the country's capital Lisbon stormed the bank before daybreak, overpowering the perpetrator and freeing the four hostages. No injuries occurred during the police action.

The 57-year-old hostage taker was armed with a pistol and during negotiations with police had demanded a ransom of 100,000 euros (127,000 dollars) to free the hostages.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency