A man has been arrested for taking six girls hostage in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, police said on Monday (10/09/2012).
The six girls were inside a house in Extension 9, in Joza, when the man arrived around 4am, said Captain Mali Govender.
The owner of the house, a Grahamstown police officer, was not home at the time.
The man called the officer after finding her police firearm in the house, said Govender.
He told the officer he was holding the girls hostage. One of the girls was the officer’s daughter.
Police were informed that there was a man in the house acting in a violent manner, and upon arrival, were told the man was in the house with the girls.
"Prior to police arrival, several shots were fired in the air after a neighbour tried talking to the suspect,” said Govender.
Police negotiators were at the house until the man surrendered around 8am. The man, in his 20s, was arrested.
A case of attempted murder, kidnapping, and unlawful discharge of a firearm has been opened.
"This incident is believed to be linked to a report received the previous evening,” Govender said.
"The suspect requested police assistance to go to the home of the police officer and collect keys to his house as there appeared to have been a domestic dispute. The suspect’s house keys were handed to him.” Govender said police would also conduct an internal investigation.
No one was injured. The man was expected to appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court soon. - Sapa
