![JAPAN-CRIME
Police officers guard the area around a post office where a suspected gunman has taken an unknown number of people hostage in Warabi city, Saitama prefecture on October 31, 2023. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Philip FONG has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Credit to AFP] instead of [JIJI Press and Japan out]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require." (Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images)](https://c3.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1755855641.webp)
OAN’s Abril Elfi
1:35 PM – Tuesday, October 31, 2023
A gunman who barricaded himself in a Japanese post office with two hostages for several hours has now been arrested.
Local Japanese media reported that the man, who is reportedly “in his 80s,” blockaded himself and two hostages inside of a post office in the city of Warabi on Tuesday afternoon.
The arrest happened after a standoff between him and officers that lasted for more than 8 hours.
The man entered the post office with a firearm in north of Tokyo, an hour after a hospital shooting occurred nearby that he was reportedly involved in as well. The hospital shooting occurred in the city of Toda and two people were injured, including a doctor.
Police stated that the attacker apparently fired his gun from the street at the hospital and then fled on a motorcycle.
Later, hundreds of police officers surrounded the post office facility where at least two female post office workers in their twenties and thirties were taken hostage.
Officers wearing helmets and bulletproof vests were seen kneeling behind the doors of a patrol vehicle that was parked outside.
Video footage of the scene also showed the suspect wearing a baseball cap and wielding a rifle, as he briefly appeared at the entryway.
The identity of the gunman is still unknown.
This is a developing story.
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