Family was not held hostage, police say (Update)

Police on Tuesday said a man they arrested earlier in the day after an eight-hour siege at his house in Dasaki Achnas village had not held his wife and child hostage.According to SBA police spokesman Giorgos Kiteos, police were called around 3am by the man’s wife who reported her 38-year old husband was breaking things and was drunk.

As soon as police officers arrived at the scene, the woman and child left the house and told police he was armed with a pistol.

The officers called for backup and surrounded the house but it took until 11.30am to persuade him to come outside and surrender to the authorities.

Initial reports, even from the police, suggested the wife and child were being held hostage inside.

“He didn’t kidnap anyone,” Kiteos said, adding that both wife and daughter weren’t in danger at any point.

“He wasn’t a threat to his family. He was drunk and refused to surrender. He was pointing the gun at us and threatened police officers. We brought in a negotiation expert and after several hours we finally got him to come out,” Kiteos added.

The man surrendered at around 11.30am and was taken to Dhekelia police station for questioning.

Asked on what the man’s demands were, Kiteos answered that he was too drunk to be coherent.

Police are investigating whether the pistol was loaded and where it had been acquired.

Officers found a second gun in the house but on closer inspection it was determined to be a fake.

 

 

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