Amsterdam hostage siege ends after gunman commits suicide

Police in the Netherlands have said a seven-hour hostage siege at Amsterdam’s tallest building has ended after the gunman committed suicide.

The man, who was armed with two guns and explosives, seized control of the 35-storey Rembrandt Tower, apparently to protest against the poor quality of a widescreen television supplied by a company based in the building.

At one stage, the man had as many as 18 hostages, with a further 200 people trapped in their offices. District Attorney Leo de Wit said the gunman, whom he described as "mentally confused", shot himself twice in the head and was dead.