Posted on 02/07/2005 4:26:39 AM PST by Cornpone
The Spanish government says a hostage crisis at its consulate in the Swiss capital, Bern, has ended, apparently without bloodshed.
However, the Swiss authorities have yet to confirm that the stand-off is over.
"The hostage situation is over," said a Spanish foreign ministry official. "The police are investigating," he added.
Spanish state radio said three hostage-takers had entered the building at 8 o'clock.
The Swiss authorities have not confirmed the reports.
However, a spokesman for the local police told swissinfo at the scene that two hostages had been freed and another one had managed to escape the three kidnappers who were armed with knives and a firearm.
"It is not clear whether more people are inside the building," the spokesman said.
Motive unclear
Police have called on the hostage-takers to surrender. The reason for the hostage-taking remains unclear.
"We don't know whether it is politically-motivated or simply a criminal act," a police spokesman said.
Security forces, including army soldiers, have been deployed around the consulate and several buildings in the area were evacuated.
The Federal Police Office set up a special hostage-crisis task force.
muslims?
All that is know at this point, according to the AFP, is that the hostage takers spoke French.
I have nothing but pity for the spanish people who took the low road when they were attacked.
It was also reported in the Spanish press that it is thought that they were attempting to steal passports and documents. If they spoke French, they may have been ETA (or, of course, they could also be Algerians - who are active in AQ).
If it's ETA, it's a new modus operandi. I think they only have attacked in Spain and France.
Ooops! I think I replied to you with my theory on the other thread!
Some of the "foreign fighters" in Iraq have been French citizens. Read more:
French Fighters Captured with Iraqi Terrorists
Feb. 6, 2005 - U.S. forces are holding three French nationals who were captured in Iraq fighting alongside insurgents loyal to terrorist kingpin Abu Musab al Zarqawi - a development that could complicate attempts to thaw relations between France and America.
"I can confirm that we are aware of the existence of these three people of French nationality who are being held in Iraq," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous told a press conference in Paris last week, in comments first reported by Reuters.[/snip]
Homeland Insecurity - How European officials are trying to thwart domestic threats and stop the flow of radical recruits to Iraq
Jan. 30, 2005 - U.S.-led troops are under attack every day from foreign fighters in Iraq. But just how many of those insurgents are coming from Europe? A string of recent arrests suggests that a small but determined band of extremists is exporting young Muslim men in Europe to Iraq for jihad. Last week, German authorities arrested two men in Mainz: one an Iraqi who police say is an al-Qaeda-trained militant and recruiter of local Muslim youths for the insurgency, the other a Palestinian who is allegedly one of his recruits. In Paris, police arrested 11 people they say were involved in a recruitment cell with links to four French nationals killed in Iraq since July. Two of the 11 were preparing to leave for Syria en route to Iraq, according to French investigators. Security officials across the European Union are moving to stop the flow, while in Britain the government has caused a storm with proposals for powers to sentence some suspected terrorists to indefinite house arrest — without charge or trial. [/snip]
UPDATE!!!
Swiss police set ultimatum in hostage drama
The Swiss police have called on three armed kidnappers in the Spanish consulate in the Swiss capital, Bern, to surrender.
Two hostages have been freed, while a third managed to escape. The reason for the hostage taking is still unclear.
Police said they had given the three kidnappers, who are armed with knives and a firearm, an ultimatum to surrender.
A spokesman added that the three hostages were safe. They apparently managed to escape from the building shortly after the kidnappers entered the building in the Swiss capital, Bern, at 8am.
One consular employee was injured and had to be taken to hospital.
"We don't know whether [the hostage-taking]was politically-motivated or simply a criminal act," said a police spokesman.
Security forces, including army soldiers, have been deployed around the consulate. Several buildings in the area were evacuated.
The Federal Police Office set up a special task force and is trying to contact the armed intruders.
Spanish reports
Earlier the Spanish foreign ministry said the hostage crisis had ended without bloodshed.
Some reports said the the masked gunmen may have been trying to seize documents such as passports from the Spanish consulate.
swissinfo with agencies
ETA is very weak at the moment, thanks to President Aznar's strong policy against terrorism. During the last months, they have put weak bombs in several Spanish towns. If it's ETA, maybe they're trying to be noticeable with this new modus operandis.
So the bears finally got fed up, and wanted to be let go.
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