Siberian hostage taker killed

Attempts by police to free five bank workers held hostage by an armed man in Siberia has resulted in the death of the hostage taker.

A man armed with a grenade and a gun took five people hostage in a bank in Leninsk-Kuznetsky city in Southwest Siberia at 19:00 local time.

“The man demanded a plane, money and the release of his friend from jail, as well as the opportunity to leave the region with his friend,” the source from local administration was quoted by RIA news agency as saying.

The hostages, all of whom are workers in the bank, are reportedly safe.