Georgia: Armed hostage taker captured after 3 hours

TBILISI, Georgia

A man wielding a hand grenade in Georgia's capital Tbilisi was apprehended Friday after a three-hour standoff with police, officials announced.

Vaja Siradze, the head of the Georgian Patrol Police Department, said the incident in which nine victims were taken hostage took place at MBC Microfinance Organization on Akaki Tsereteli Avenue.

It was reported that the attacker had made social demands, including that state banks provide low-interest loans and a general ban on gambling be imposed in the country.

*Writing by Ahmet Gencturk in Ankara