Philippines mall horror: At least 30 held hostage by gunman in Manila shopping mall
AT LEAST 30 people were held hostage and one person was shot after a gunman went on the rampage in a shopping mall in Manila.
Philippines: Police attend Manila shopping mall hostage situation
A recently dismissed security guard, identified as Archie Paray, started firing a gun and took dozens of people hostage in Manila, authorities said.
The officlal added about 30 people were held by the gunman, with one person shot and wounded.
After a nine hours of standoff the hostage taker surrendered to the authorities, releasing 27 hostages.
Mayor Francis Zamora of the Philippine capital's San Juan area said the gunman shot one person at the V-Mall.
The man shot is believed to be another security guard.
The victim is in stable condition at a nearby hospital.
They were seen being carried out by security guards before being wheeled away.
Mr Zamora said a negotiator spoke to the gunman who was holding hostages inside an administration office.
"He felt bad because he was removed as a guard," he told reporters, adding that the man tried but failed to convince fellow guards to join him.
The man demanded to talk to fellow guards and the media, Mr Zamora said, but it was not clear if officials would agree to those conditions.
Later a guard held up a phone to the media, in which the gunman panned round the room.
It showed that the hostages were still alive but he declined to say how many hostages there were.
He said: "Just wait, they will come out alive."
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Mall staff handed out radios to the media so they could ask Mr Paray questions.
More than a dozen SWAT commandos were earlier seen entering the shopping centre with their assault rifles ready.
The four-storey mall has more than 100 outlets and is a main shopping location for locals.
Mr Zamora added the hostage taker was armed with a pistol, but he also claimed he had grenades.
The mayor said teams were unable to verify if the guard was carrying grenades.
The malls management claimed the ex-guard was employed through Safeguard Armor Security Corporation.
Mr Zamora said a policeman experienced with handling hostage-takers led negotations.
The mayor claimed the man requested food and water.
He added the man had "calmed down a bit".
Mr Zamora said: "We will do our very best to settle this issue peacefully to make sure that no one gets hurt."
Mall employees and shoppers were evacuated form the building.
The mall’s electronics and clothing stores were sealed off as shoppers escaped.
Employees said the office where the hostage is taking place was located on the second floor of the mall.
Greenhills management said the safety of their employees and the public was a priority.
Mr Zamora urged the public to keep their distance from the shopping centre.
He said: "The perimeter is safe, the area is safe, the mall is already in lockdown."