Hostage drama ends in arrest
A loud explosion followed by two more bangs marked the end of a Lower Hutt hostage drama that lasted through the night.
Within minutes of the explosion yesterday morning, members of the armed offenders squad had a 25-year-old woman in custody and into a waiting ambulance.
Shortly after, another woman was brought out by police and treated for minor injuries. It is understood the two women are related.
The Kings Cres home, which is owned by Salvation Army, allows only pre-approved visitors at certain hours.
Police were unable to say exactly what happened at the home, down a long driveway near High St, but they were called there at 10pm on Wednesday.
By daybreak, at least 10 police cars, as well as fire crews, Wellington Free Ambulance, the armed offenders squad, and police dogs were at the cordoned-off scene.
But Dean Christie, whose home overlooks the scene, said the first he was aware of any drama was when he opened his curtain yesterday morning to see the Fire Service’s command unit outside.
Soon, armed offenders squad members were spotted around the hostage house with what seemed to be a listening device to the wall, Christie said.
A ladder was placed to the firststorey window before what appeared to be a stun grenade was detonated, smashing the window with an explosion and loud bang.
That was followed by two other bangs from inside the house.
Nearby resident Duleep de Silva had been told there had been ‘‘some sort of hostage situation’’, which police later confirmed.
Major Lee Edney, from Salvation Army, said the flats were ‘‘transitional housing’’ for people facing homelessness.