Hostage drama in Limburg
The man who took his baby-son hostage in the town of Herten in Limburg this morning has surrendered.
Police reported around 1.45 today that the 38-year-old man gave himself up; his son -reportedly about three months old- is doing well. The child has been reunited with his mother and will later undergo a medical check-up.
Police and other emergency services were on alert from around 10.00am after reports came in that John E. took the child hostage. The man who according to neighbors is labile, was unarmed.
The hostage drama lasted for about four hours. Police negotiators made had contact with John E. early on and around 1.00pm, an arrest unit stormed the house and arrested him. They say the child had not been in danger at any time.
The man apparently got divorced recently and also lost his job. Aside from the son he took, he apparently also has an eight-year-old daughter. The son apparently lives with him; the daughter resides somewhere else.
It is not clear what his reasons for taking the child were, but neighbors say it could be that he had relationship problems.
Police say the man had been spotted around 9.30am, walking in the garden, obviously confused. After receiving reports that he had taken the child hostage, police cordoned off the area; other emergency services were also dispatched to the scene.
Police and Prosecutor's Office have scheduled a press conference about the incident around 3.00pm.
