Knife-wielding man takes 15 people hostage in busy supermarket
A KNIFE-WIELDING man took at least 15 people hostage in a supermarket after a failed robbery attempt.
Armed police surrounded the scene where a knife-wielding man took 15 hostages
Armed police surrounded the supermarket, near Brussels, Belgium, and attempted to secure the release of the 15 civilians amid fears the hostage taker may also have had a gun as well as a knife.
Reports suggest the perpetrator entered the Carrefour supermarket, in Vorst, and attempted to steal money from the till at around 8.15pm local time, 7.15pm GMT.
When this failed he panicked and took 15 shoppers hostage before barricading himself inside the store.
This is the store where the hostage situation is unfolding
Special units of the federal police department cordoned off the surrounding area.
The hostage taker made a statement to police saying he "doesn't want to go to jail", according to local media sources.
He then reportedly handed himself into police and is now in custody.
All hostages are understood to have been released unharmed.