The Briefing Room
General Category => World News => Topic started by: rangerrebew on December 15, 2014, 11:18:43 am
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BREAKING: Belgium Siege; Four Gunmen Take Hostages In Ghent, Belgium
12.15.2014 |
News
| Caleb Howe |
The BBC and other outlets report this morning that as many as four gunmen have entered a residential apartment building in Ghent, Belgium and have taken hostages. ABC/Reuters reports:
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Four gunmen in Belgium have taken several people hostage after they entered a flat in the north-western city of Ghent, according to unconfirmed reports.
Heavily-armed police have surrounded the area and authorities have urged residents to stay indoors.
The state prosecution service said there were no immediate indications of a link to terrorism.
It is not known if the event is related to the Sydney Siege. Reports continue to break on Twitter.
A spokesperson for police in Ghent tells Reuters: "For the time being we have no indication that there is a link to terrorism." There is no information on if this is related to the Sydney Siege hostage crisis in Australia.
Truth Revolt will update as news becomes available.
http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/breaking-belgium-siege-four-gunmen-take-hostages-ghent-belgium
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Belgium arrests in Ghent apartment siege
Up to three people have been arrested after four men burst into a flat in the Belgian city of Ghent, amid reports of a hostage-taking.
Armed police stormed into the flat, reports said, hours after the siege began in the Dampoort area early on Monday.
Authorities said the incident was not linked to terrorism. Local media said it may have involved drugs.
Hours after the siege began it was unclear whether it was over.
Reporters at the scene said that three people had given themselves up without violence and had been led away with their hands held aloft.
But it is not yet known whether they are suspects.
Local prosecutors said there was no indication of any link to terrorism or jihadist group Islamic State.
"This isn't the same sort of incident as the events in Sydney," spokeswoman Annemie Serlippens said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30480485