Investing.com - Financial Markets Worldwide
June's AI-picked stock updates now live. See what's new in Tech Titans, up 28.5% year to date.Unlock Stocks

UPDATE 1-Sacked security guard holds dozens hostage at Philippine mall

Published 03/02/2020, 06:00 PM
UPDATE 1-Sacked security guard holds dozens hostage at Philippine mall

(Recasts with hostage-taker comments, background)
MANILA, March 2 (Reuters) - A Philippine security guard,
sacked from his job at a shopping mall in the capital, Manila,
shot a man and took dozens of people hostage on Monday, as
police and negotiators tried to end the standoff.
The man entered the administration office of V-Mall in
Manila's San Juan City armed with a pistol and was shouting that
he was carrying a grenade, according to mayor Francis Zamora.
The man that he shot was stable in hospital, he added.
The gunman, Archie Paray, later gave assurances that the
hostages would be released without harm, provided that the
authorities did not try to trick him.
He was sacked by the company that provides security for the
mall and had tried to get other guards involved in what mayor
Zamora said was "some sort of coup d'etat against the mall
management".
Though major hostage incidents are rare in the Philippines,
memories are fresh of when a sacked policeman hijacked a Manila
bus full of Hong Kong tourists in 2010, and was killed in a
gunfight together with eight passengers when police bungled a
rescue.
A SWAT team was seen entering the four-storey V-Mall as
shoppers were evacuated and crowds of media gathered behind a
security cordon.
Among Paray's demands was the opportunity to speak to former
colleagues and to media by video call. The negotiators agreed.
Late in the afternoon, a guard held up a smartphone to media
during which the gunman panned his camera around the room to
show that the hostages were alive. He declined to say how many
he was holding.
"Just wait, they will come out alive," he said.
Mall staff later handed out a few radios to reporters to
allow them to ask Paray questions.

Latest comments

Install Our App
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.