Brazil gunman straps hostage with apparent explosives

An armed man took an employee hostage at a hotel in the Brazilian capital Monday and forced him to don a vest apparently stuffed with explosives, authorities said.

An armed man took an employee hostage at a hotel in the Brazilian capital Monday and forced him to don a vest apparently stuffed with explosives, authorities said.

A-hotel-employee-centre-white-shirt-who-was-held-hostage-and-forced-to-wear-an-explosive-laden-vest-is-driven-out-from-the-hotel-in-Brasilia-AFP-Photo

The gunman called a hotel courier in the early hours, and pushed him into a room on the 13th floor, a police spokesperson told AFP.

The hostage taker called reception to inform them. He has since appeared several times on the balcony, waving a pistol, with his handcuffed hostage wearing a jacket that appeared to contain explosives.

"It has not been confirmed if the explosives are real -- we have taken all security measures," the police spokesman said, without indicating whether the identity of either man was known.

The area around the Saint Peter hotel in Brasilia had been cordoned off.

The spokesman said the hostage taker had made a number of demands, including some of a political nature.

"Security evacuated the hotel and three negotiators are trying to resolve the situation peacefully. A bomb disposal unit is on the scene."