ISIS Claims Responsibility for Hostage Situation in Melbourne

Before the hostage taker was shot dead, another man was found dead and an explosion was reported from the same area.

Image for representative purpose. (Photo: iStock)

The city of Melbourne in Australia witnessed a hostage situation on Monday after an explosion was reported at 4 pm local time. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, as its news agency Amaq reported.

A man, who was holding a woman hostage, was killed by the police at the Bay Street apartment complex in suburban Brighton locality, “shortly before 6 pm”, according to the police.

Prior to this, another man was found dead in the apartment area, thought to be shot in the foyer of the building.

It is being probed whether the whole episode was a terror-related one.

While three policemen sustained injuries during the rescue operation, the woman who was held hostage, escaped unhurt.

The police was quoted by ABC (Australian Boradcasting Corporation) news as saying:

Police have safely rescued a woman who was being held against her will in the apartment block.

Witnesses said that they heard gunshots being fired around 6 pm, with the police evacuating the area and telling those in the vicinity to hide in a supermarket.

Giving a sense of the commotion in the locality, a witness was quoted by the Australian news outlet as saying:

I saw a couple of police hiding behind letterboxes and one also sort of bobbing behind one of their police cars. It didn’t look too good and all the streets are closed off around the area.

Witness