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Gunman who took 12 hostages at a bank in Georgia arrested

Gunman who took 12 hostages at a bank in Georgia arrested

Georgia bank hostages

Twelve people were taken hostage by an armed man on Tuesday at a bank in Kutaisi, Georgia's second-largest city, who demanded a hefty sum of money, according to officials.Later,it was confirmed that, following a police operation, the man had been arrested and all hostages freed unharmed.

The suspect was reportedly holed up at a Bank of Georgia branch in the town of about 150,000 inhabitants in central Georgia, according to the interior ministry of the country.

According to the ministry, an inquiry was started into "a terrorist act, hostage-taking, and unlawful possession of firearms".

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A video taken on a hostage's phone and broadcast by the independent Mtavari TV channel depictedwhat he claims are two explosive devices on the front door.

In another video, the interior of the bank is visible, as is the accused hostage-taker—a masked gunman dressed in military gear.

A female hostage is heard saying: “His demand is two million dollars within three hours. He has a hand grenade and there are bombs which will explode.”

He also demanded a helicopter, a Russian flag and a fishing rod in return for freeing hostages, according toGeorgian media reports.

(With inputs from agencies)

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