Armed gunman arrested after taking people hostage near Alabama university campus

The Alabama University has reportedly sent out a campus-wide alert warning people to stay away. Photograph: (Twitter)

WION The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States Jan 10, 2017, 10.43 PM (IST)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The university sent out a campus-wide alert warning people to stay away, US media reported

An armed suspect accused of taking at least eight people hostage at a credit union near the University of Alabama campus on Tuesday has been arrested, US media reported.

Officers were able to storm the Alabama Credit Union and "take him down," Police Chief Steve Anderson told the press. The suspect apparently wanted to rob the place, Anderson added.

The university earlier sent out a campus-wide alert warning people to stay away, US media reported.

Local law enforcement and UAPD have responded to a robbery/hostage situation at the Alabama Credit Union located at 220 Bryant Dr. (1 of 2)
— The Univ. of Alabama (@UofAlabama) January 10, 2017

Tuscaloosa Police Lt Teena Richardson told CBS News that at least one armed suspect entered the Alabama Credit Union branch at around 8:30 am, before the branch opened.

An unknown number of employees were inside the credit union at the time, and have been taken hostage, Richardson said. No customers were inside the business.

(WION with inputs from agencies)