Taiwan jail inmates take official, others hostage

Taipei, Feb 11:

An unknown number of armed inmates in Kaohsiung Prison in southern Taiwan Wednesday took the deputy warden and two other people hostage, Xinhua news agency reported.

Gun shots were heard at the prison and heavily armed SWAT police were despatched to the scene, according to TV reports Wednesday afternoon.

The hostage-takers, all armed, numbered five or six, media reports said. IANS