Gunman shot dead, hostage rescued in Estonia (Lead)
August 11th, 2011 - 10:28 pm ICT by IANSMoscow, Aug 11 (IANS) A gunman who took a hostage and created a small blast Thursday at the Estonian defence ministry building in the capital Tallinn has been shot dead and the hostage rescued safely, media reports said.
The gunman, a retired soldier, seized a security guard as he broke into the building around 3.30 p.m. (1230 GMT), BBC reported.
The hostage is now safe, Xinhua reported citing local website www.err.ee.
Earlier, police arrived at the building and cordoned off the area. The building was evacuated.
Defence Minister Mart Laar was reportedly not in the building at the time.
The website of Estonian daily Postimees carried photographs showing ambulances, and police wearing body armour setting up a cordon around the ministry.
There were no civilian casualties, BBC said.
Witnesses told RIA Novosti that people leapt out of the building’s windows. A ministry source said the gunman first threatened staff with an explosive device and then opened fire.
- Estonia defence ministry attacked - Aug 11, 2011
- Members of anti-Soviet resistance group found in Estonian mass grave - Aug 26, 2011
- British, Estonian troops killed in southern Afghanistan - Oct 16, 2011
- Estonian charged with spying for Russia - Feb 23, 2012
- Estonia mourns deaths at orphanage fire - Feb 21, 2011
- 17 students hurt in Afghanistan grenade attack - Jul 03, 2011
- 11 dead in bomb and gun attack in Norway (Third Lead) - Jul 23, 2011
- Gunman takes several hostages in US (Lead) - Sep 02, 2010
- Discovery Channel hostage situation resolved with all hostages safe, suspect killed - Sep 02, 2010
- Ilves to be sworn in as Estonia's president - Oct 10, 2011
- President's standards for five tank regiments - Nov 21, 2011
- Armed 15-year-old US student shoots himself after tense hostage situation - Nov 30, 2010
- Chinese among hostages at Karachi navy base - May 23, 2011
- Polanski's 'The Ghost Writer' wins best film at European Film Awards - Dec 05, 2010
- Hostage situation at Discovery Channel headquarters - Sep 02, 2010
Tags: 1230 gmt, ambulances, bbc, body armour, capital tallinn, civilian casualties, defence minister, defence ministry, explosive device, gunman, hostage, mart laar, ministry source, moscow, photographs, postimees, ria novosti, security guard, soldier, xinhua