Former student releases university hostages

A former student claiming to have a bomb has released the 17 students and a professor he took hostage.

The suspect took over a religious studies classroom at Fairfield University in Connecticut.

He freed the hostages a few at a time throughout the evening and was taken into custody about an hour after the last student was released.

Nancy Habetz, a spokeswoman for the Roman Catholic school in southwestern Connecticut, says the suspect "came out and gave himself up peacefully".

Fairfield First Selectman Kenneth Flatto says the package the student claimed was an explosive device was left in the classroom and is being examined by a bomb squad.

Reports said the suspect ordered one of the hostages to call a television station, demanding that a statement be read over the air.

The statement, which station spokeswoman Karen Mateo described as "rambling and anti-Semitic," was not broadcast.

The class, Voices of Medieval Women, is taught by Elizabeth Dreyer, an associate professor. Her husband, John Bennett, spoke to his wife after her release.

"She's OK, she says the man is clearly disturbed, and she said she wants to see me," he said.