The Japanese police have arrested a man who had barricaded himself in a post office with two hostages and who is suspected after he previously committed a shooting at a hospital that injured two people.

The suspect, Tsuneo Suzuki, from 86 yearswas arrested after allegedly taking hostages at gunpoint in a post office in Warabi city (Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo) and have barricaded themselves there since Tuesday around 2 p.m. local time (5:00 GMT).

Suzuki was arrested more than eight hours after breaking into the office. where, according to eyewitnesses, several shots were heard and that she remained surrounded by police ever since.

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The two loved two women who worked in the office were released and they are safe according to police, who managed to enter the building to arrest the suspect after ensuring the safety of the hostages, the state broadcaster said. NHK.

Authorities are investigating the detainee following this incident alleged author also of another to shoot which took place an hour earlier at Toda General Hospital, and injured a doctor and a patient, both minor.

The gunman, described by witnesses as an 80-year-old man, fired at them from the street and fled the scene on a motorcycle. Toda Hospital is 1.5 kilometers from the post office where the suspect barricaded himself.

The local authorities of Toda and Warabi They asked residents not to take to the streets until the alleged perpetrator of these incidents was arrested. and had also ordered residents within a 400-meter radius of the post office to evacuate to avoid any unforeseen events.

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The Tokyo Metropolitan Police sent a special team for such cases and security forces blocked the roads around the redoubt and contacted the man by telephone in an attempt to persuade him to release the hostages and surrender.

Authorities are also investigating a fire that occurred at a house in Toda, about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the hospital, around the time of the shooting there and which they believe could be the home of the inmate, who television cameras allegedly captured as he was carrying a weapon. similar to a Tokarev pistol. (JO)