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    July 07, 2011

Malaysia Hostage Standoff Ends, Children Unharmed

   VOA News
   Police commandos storm the kindergarten where children and teachers are
   being held hostage in Muar in Malaysia's southern Johor state, July 7,
   2011
   Photo: Reuters
   Police commandos storm the kindergarten where children and teachers are
   being held hostage in Muar in Malaysia's southern Johor state, July 7,
   2011

   Malaysian police have freed 30 pre-school children and their four
   teachers hours after they were taken hostage Thursday by a hammer and
   machete-wielding man in southern Jolor state.
   Police fired tear gas and stormed the building after several hours of
   negotiations had failed. The standoff ended when a police sniper shot
   and wounded the suspect.
   All of the hostages were freed unharmed.

   The Malaysian Star newspaper says the man barged into the kindergarten
   wielding a hammer. Police say he threatened to kill the children if
   negotiators did not give him a gun.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
   

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