A middle-aged man who took three or four people hostage Saturday in an Albany, N.Y., bank, let the hostages go and committed suicide.
The man, who has not been identified, allegedly took the people hostage at the downtown Trustco Bank at about 1 p.m. Saturday, cable's Capital News 9 in Albany, N.Y., reported.
Police cordoned off several blocks surrounding the bank. Two SWAT teams were seen surrounding the bank. As the hostages ran out of the building, the police pulled them to safety.
Police officials said they did not know why the man took the people hostage. Several law enforcement agencies participated to free the hostages and negotiate with the hostage-taker including the state police, the FBI, U.S. Marshals and the Albany police.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
