A hostage situation unfolded on a train in west Switzerland on Thursday night (Feb 8), with passengers taken hostage by a man armed with an axe and a knife.

The situation ended after the police raided the train and killed the suspect, said the authorities. The hostages were freed.

The hostage-taker was speaking in English and Farsi, said Vaud canton police spokesman Jean-Christophe Sauterel, at a press conference.&nbsp;

"At this stage of the investigation, the motives of the perpetrator are not known," Sauterel said.

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He added that the identity of the hostage-taker was still not officially confirmed, and the checks were being carried out.

A police officer shot the man after he allegedly rushed towards him with an axe in the hand.

The suspect had taken a total of 15 hostages - 14 passengers and the conductor - and the ordeal continued for&nbsp;four hours, from around 6:35 pm to 10:30 pm local time.&nbsp;

The conductor of the train was forced by the suspect to stop running it near Yverdon and join the passengers who had alerted the police officials about the situation.

<h2>Police officials negotiated with the suspect via WhatsApp&nbsp;</h2>

The negotiations with the suspect happened through WhatsApp and using a translator, as he spoke in Farsi.

Finally, the authorities stormed inside the train and executed a plan to free the hostages from the suspect, as per Sauterel.

Watch:&nbsp;Switzerland: Rising temperatures force closure of Ski resorts

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Hostage situations rarely take place in Switzerland but do occur occasionally.&nbsp;

In January 2022, &nbsp;a couple and two employees of a company were taken hostage by criminals in an attempt to get access to vaults where precious metals were kept but ultimately fled without taking the loot.

In November 2021, a watch company's director and members of his family were taken hostage at his home and the criminals stole gold.

(With inputs from agencies)

A hostage situation unfolded on a train in west Switzerland on Thursday night (Feb 8), with passengers taken hostage by a man armed with an axe and a knife. The situation ended after the police raided the train and killed the suspect, said the authorities.

A hostage situation unfolded on a train in west Switzerland on Thursday night (Feb 8), with passengers taken hostage by a man armed with an axe and a knife. The situation ended after the police raided the train and killed the suspect, said the authorities. The hostages were freed. The hostage-taker was speaking in English and Farsi, said Vaud canton police spokesman Jean-Christophe Sauterel, at a press conference. "At this stage of the investigation, the motives of the perpetrator are not known," Sauterel said. Also Read: India nears landmark $100 bn investment pact with Switzerland, Norway He added that the identity of the hostage-taker was still not officially confirmed, and the checks were being carried out. A police officer shot the man after he allegedly rushed towards him with an axe in the hand. The suspect had taken a total of 15 hostages - 14 passengers and the conductor - and the ordeal continued for four hours, from around 6:35 pm to 10:30 pm local time. The conductor of the train was forced by the suspect to stop running it near Yverdon and join the passengers who had alerted the police officials about the situation. Police officials negotiated with the suspect via WhatsApp The negotiations with the suspect happened through WhatsApp and using a translator, as he spoke in Farsi. Finally, the authorities stormed inside the train and executed a plan to free the hostages from the suspect, as per Sauterel. Watch: Switzerland: Rising temperatures force closure of Ski resorts Hostage situations rarely take place in Switzerland but do occur occasionally. In January 2022, a couple and two employees of a company were taken hostage by criminals in an attempt to get access to vaults where precious metals were kept but ultimately fled without taking the loot. In November 2021, a watch company's director and members of his family were taken hostage at his home and the criminals stole gold. (With inputs from agencies)

Swiss train hostage situation: Suspect arms himself with axe and knife

A man set a train carriage in Switzerland on fire using a flammable liquid and stabbed passengers today, injuring six people, including a six-year-old child, police said. 
 
The man, a 27-year-old Swiss citizen, carried out the attack on a train travelling in Switzerland&#39;s far east, along its border with Liechtenstein, and was also injured, regional police in Saint Gallen said in a statement. 
 
Police said the attack had taken place at around 2:20 pm (local time) near the Salez station on a train running between Buchs and Sennwald and that some of the injuries were serious. 
 
&quot;According to the information we have for the time being, the 27-year-old Swiss man poured out a flammable liquid ... (which) caught fire,&quot; police said, adding that the man &quot;was also armed with at least one knife&quot;. 
 
Seven people including the suspected attacker were admitted to various hospitals with burn and stab wounds, the statement said. 
Contacted by AFP, police said the motive for the attack was unknown. 
 
The victims included two men aged 17 and 50, and three women aged 17, 34 and 43. Dozens of people were on the train at the time of the attack, the police statement said. 
 
A massive contingent of rescue workers rushed to the scene, including police, firefighters, ambulances and three rescue helicopters. 
The Salez station remains closed, and police said replacement buses had been set up. 
 
Saint Gallen prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the attack.&nbsp;Police said the train had suffered damages upwards of 100,000 Swiss francs. 
 
(AFP)

The 27-year-old Swiss citizen, who was also injured, carried out the attack on a train travelling in Switzerland's far east, said police

A man set a train carriage in Switzerland on fire using a flammable liquid and stabbed passengers today, injuring six people, including a six-year-old child, police said. The man, a 27-year-old Swiss citizen, carried out the attack on a train travelling in Switzerland's far east, along its border with Liechtenstein, and was also injured, regional police in Saint Gallen said in a statement. Police said the attack had taken place at around 2:20 pm (local time) near the Salez station on a train running between Buchs and Sennwald and that some of the injuries were serious. "According to the information we have for the time being, the 27-year-old Swiss man poured out a flammable liquid ... (which) caught fire," police said, adding that the man "was also armed with at least one knife". Seven people including the suspected attacker were admitted to various hospitals with burn and stab wounds, the statement said. Contacted by AFP, police said the motive for the attack was unknown. The victims included two men aged 17 and 50, and three women aged 17, 34 and 43. Dozens of people were on the train at the time of the attack, the police statement said. A massive contingent of rescue workers rushed to the scene, including police, firefighters, ambulances and three rescue helicopters. The Salez station remains closed, and police said replacement buses had been set up. Saint Gallen prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the attack. Police said the train had suffered damages upwards of 100,000 Swiss francs. (AFP)

Man sets Swiss train on fire, injures six in knife rampage

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Swiss train hostage situation: Suspect arms himself with axe and knife

Man sets Swiss train on fire, injures six in knife rampage