Man held after taking girl hostage at Seoul school

Parents wait at the main gate of Bangbae Elementary School in southern Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

By Park Si-soo

A man is being questioned after taking a teenage girl hostage at an elementary school in Seoul on Monday.

The man, whose identity was unknown, held the girl hostage at Bangbae Elementary School in southern Seoul for one hour from 11:43 a.m. Holding a weapon in one hand, he asked school officials to call reporters.

A police commando team seized him at 12.43 p.m. while he was distracted drinking from a water bottle.

The girl was freed unharmed and taken to hospital, according to police.

The motive for incident is unknown.