Japan: Hostage taking in a post office, a possibly armed man

A potentially armed man held at least one person hostage at a post office in Saitama department (northwest of Tokyo), local authorities said Tuesday.

At around 2:15 p.m. (5:15 a.m. GMT) today “a person took hostages and fled to a post office” in the town of Warabi, authorities in that township said on their website, saying that person was in possession of an item , which resembles a firearm.

The incident occurred as police were investigating one or more shots heard in the same area earlier in the day.

Two people sustained minor injuries in this incident, but the causes of the injuries are unknown.

Television footage showed the alleged hostage-taking at the post office, in which she was wearing a dark jacket and hat and appeared to be holding a firearm.