Gunman holds hostages in Belgorod bank office

13:15 April 21, 2014Interfax

A gunman broke into a bank branch in Belgorod on Monday and demanded 25 million rubles, a law enforcement source told Interfax.

"At around 10:45 a.m. an on-duty officer received a report that an armed man walked into the office of the Zapadny Bank and demanded $700 000 (25 million rubles). There are about ten people inside the building. An operative group has travelled to the scene. The building has been cordoned off, and a negotiator is working at the scene. The situation is under control," the source said.

Operatives are trying to establish the criminal's identity.

Law enforcement officials were not immediately available for comment on the matterZapadny Bank's license to carry out banking operations has been recalled, the Russian Central Bank said in a statement earlier.

The license has been recalled since April 21.

The regulator has found its reports to be substantially misleading, according to the CB press release.

Zapadny Bank ranked 137th by assets in the first quarter of 2014 in the Interfax-100 ranking prepared by Interfax-CEA.

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Belgorod bank gunman held, no one injured - police

16:28 April 21, 2014Interfax

A man who seized the office building of Zapadny Bank in Belgorod has been apprehended after voluntarily surrendering his weapon, the Interior Ministry told Interfax.

"Belgorod regional police chief Viktor Pesterev walked into the bank building for talks with the gunman," the spokesperson told Interfax.

"A while later the gunman voluntarily surrendered the weapon and was apprehended," the spokesperson said.

The man is now testifying. No one was injured in the incident.

It was reported that the local branch of Zapadny Bank, which has lost its license, was seized by local man Alexander Vdovin.

Vdovin released all the three hostages and surrendered his gun to the local police chief, Belgorod regional police spokeswoman Yelena Checheneva told Interfax.

"Literally three minutes ago Viktor Pesterev, the head of the regional police, emerged from the Zapadny bank building. He was holding the rifle that was given to him by the hostage-taker Vdovin," Checheneva said.

Read more: Gunman holds hostages in Belgorod bank office
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