Hostage leaves siege building

A MAN who was held hostage at gunpoint during a 10-day siege at a London bedsit, left the building yesterday, police said.

The man was rushed from the scene in east London at about 3.30pm to hospital, but it is understood he was unharmed. It was not immediately clear whether the gunman had surrendered, or whether the hostage had escaped or been released.

Commander Bob Quick said: "At approximately 2.55 this afternoon a man who we believe to have been held against his will for more than 10 days at the Hackney siege was able to leave the immediate confines of the flat and was escorted to safety by armed police officers.

"Initial indications are that he is uninjured and he has been taken to a London police station temporarily where he will receive any necessary medical attention. Some time after the hostage left the flat, what sounded like a firearm being discharged from inside the flat was heard. However, we believe that the suspect has not been harmed and has since attempted to establish contact with our negotiators."

He added: "The negotiators are currently attempting to re-establish contact with him." Earlier, police said they were enduring "tense and difficult" negotiations with the gunman, believed to be Eli Hall, 32.

The stand-off began on St Stephen's Day when officers, who were trying to move a Toyota Celica outside the flat, came under fire. Armed response officers from the SO19 squad attempted to enter the flat but came under attack and a shoot-out ensued.

As the siege developed, gas and electricity to the flat were cut off, although three food parcels were delivered.

Some 43 people were confined to their homes since St Stephen's Day and police delivered food and fuel.

A further 150 were told they could not return home, prompting some angry scenes. Last night, the area remained cordoned off and police marksmen still had their rifles trained on the flat. For a period, police imposed a total "lockdown" of the area, meaning no one could enter or leave.

MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Diane Abbott said: "I support the way the police handled the situation and I do not think they had an alternative the only other option would have been to burst in there and riddle him full of bullets."