Exchange cashier taken hostage by man at “Happiness” shopping centre in Minsk (Video)

(Being updated) The unknown man was armed.

This information appeared in a Twitter account of a Minsk dweller, Raman Pratasevich.

“Well, there is a man in “Shchastsye” (“Happiness”) shopping centre now, supposedly a gunman, he has taken hostage, a girl working in an exchange office,” he reports.

“There are very many policemen at the scene, and allegedly, special services’ men,” he added.

One of the workers of “Shchastsye” shopping centre Syarhei wrote on the Twitter that the attack had been made against a cashier of the exchange office of BelSwiss Bank.

“A man has attacked the exchange office of BelSwiss Bank, he probably had firearms. She was shouting so loud the whole shopping centre could hear that. Riot policemen arrived immediately. He has taken the girl a hostage. They are sitting inside the room, so far there is no motion,” a Minsk dweller Syarhei writes.

“Policemen ordered everyone to move 100 metres away from the shopping centre. They are blocking the territory, eyewitnesses saw that the attacker had a gun,” he writes.

At the moment a priest has entered the building, he is probably a negotiator.

Another employee of the shopping centre informed that the girl who had been taken hostage, was shouting loudly.

“I work at “Shchastsye” shopping centre myself. It all happened in a wink. I hope everything is alright with the girl who works there. She was shouting so loud, it was obvious she was suffering pain. There were lots of riot policemen… Everyone is in suspense,” a user YmKa writes.

At 16: 30 press Secretary of Minsk police Alyaksandr Lastouski reported that the perpetrator was neutralized and he was taken away in an ambulance. A 30-years old man was "neutralized" after long unsuccessful negotiations.