England: Hostages Rescued and Gunman Arrested

Source: coventrytelegraph.net

Armed police stormed a bowling alley in Nuneaton, England, to rescue two workers who were being held hostage by a man allegedly wielding a sawn-off shotgun.

The four hour stand-off at the MFA bowling alley at Bermuda Park in Nuneaton was brought to a dramatic end shortly after 6.30pm when a series of loud bangs could be heard.

Thomas Hitchens, a fast food manager from Nuneaton, was bowling with his family - a party of 12 - when he saw people around him starting to run.

"Everyone was running out, and we were literally the last family left in there," said the 28-year-old.

"As I turned around, he was stood there with this sawn-off double-barrelled shotgun.

"He just shouted at us 'get out - now'."

Mr Hitchens believed he parked his car right next to the man's vehicle, recognising him later as the person he then saw inside when the drama began to unfold shortly after 2pm. He said: "He shouted 'it'll be fine - I won't hurt the kids'.

"When we got into the car park, me and the children just hid behind a load of great big red bins."

He added: "It was my daughter's birthday, so we thought we'd come bowling tonight - and this happens, I can't believe it."

Rachael Ashdown, a taxi driver, said cabs were being laid on free to allow people left stranded after they were evacuated from the scene by police, to get home safely.

She said: "I don't know who would take a weapon into a place that was full of kids."

Here is how events unfolded during the Nuneaton hostage situation:

:: 2.30pm - Warwickshire Police are called to reports of a man with a firearm in Bermuda Park, Nuneaton.

:: 3.40pm - West Midlands Ambulance Service attends the scene where two men have been taken hostage inside MFA Bowl.

:: 6.30pm - Flash bangs are used at the bowling alley.

:: Around 15 minutes later an ambulance is seen entering the retail park.

:: 7:15pm - Police confirm the incident is over, and that the suspect has been arrested. West Midlands Ambulance Service says two other men were uninjured.