Robbers flee before troops hit consulate

SWISS special forces stormed the Spanish consulate yesterday to end a hostage stand-off, only to find the suspected robbers had left the building six hours earlier and eluded police.

The three masked assailants seized the consulate in the Swiss capital shortly before 8am (7am Irish time), taking three people hostage, but apparently left the building almost immediately and before police arrived, said Major Peter Theilkaes, the leader of the police operation.

One hostage managed to escape immediately and the two others were able to leave the building with police protection around two and a half hours later.