CHICAGO, Aug. 30 Six people held hostage Thursday by a gunman inside the First Commercial Bank in Chicago were freed after a botched robbery attempt.
However, there was no word on the fate of the robber, the Chicago Tribune reported.
"Something went wrong during the bank robbery itself that resulted in the barricade situation," FBI Special Agent Tom Simon said.
He said FBI agents and negotiators were on the scene but the Tribune said a police SWAT team departed in the early afternoon. Reports said police were searching the building after sending in a robotic camera.
The attempted robbery was reported about 9:42 a.m. Acting Chicago Police Superintendent Dana Starks confirmed there was a hostage situation but didn't say whether shots had been fired.
Witnesses said at least six people ran out or were released from the bank building at the start of the hostage drama, WLS-TV, Chicago, said. A second group of scared-looking hostages left the building later. No injuries were reported.
The Far North Side block at Morse and Clark Street was cordoned off by more than 20 police vehicles and two nearby grade schools were placed on lockdown for a time.
Copyright 2007 by UPI
