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HOSTAGE DRAMA

Miami hostage situation sees bar manager ‘holding 12 customers’ as SWAT team swoop and place schools on lockdown

Police were called to Joseph's Club Restaurant in the Little Havana area of the Florida city after reports of a robbery involving a mobile phone

A BAR manager is holding 12 customers as a SWAT team swoop and schools are placed on lockdown in Miami, according to reports.

Police were called to Joseph's Club Restaurant in the Little Havana area of the Florida city after reports of a robbery involving a mobile phone.

 Swat team officers surround the restaurant where the hostages are held
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Swat team officers surround the restaurant where the hostages are heldCredit: WSVN - Channel 7 Miami

But when they arrived, a woman emerged from the building and told officers she and others were being held hostage inside, cops revealed.

Police said 10-12 employees were being held hostage by management for unknown reasons, according to .

The nearby Citrus Grove Elementary School and Citrus Grove Middle School were initially placed on lockdown as Swat teams descended on the area.

Those lockdowns are now said to have been lifted.

Police helicopter footage of Miami restaurant where club manager is holding 10-12 people hostage
Miami police release statement after reports of 10-12 people are being 'held hostage' by 'club manager'
 Armed cops are seen in the street amid an ongoing hostage situation
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Armed cops are seen in the street amid an ongoing hostage situation
 The area around the restaurant is seen cordoned off by cops
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The area around the restaurant is seen cordoned off by cops
 Cops descended on the area and placed two nearby schools on lockdown
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Cops descended on the area and placed two nearby schools on lockdown
 Officers are seen at the scene of the ongoing hostage situation in Miami
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Officers are seen at the scene of the ongoing hostage situation in Miami

Police revealed Swat officers “breached the front door”, adding that negotiators were trying to make contact with those inside.

Reporters at the scene spoke of seeing cops throwing cable wire into the building to establish a phone line with the hostage taker.

There are no weapons involved in the hostage situation, according to .

Cops urged members of the public to avoid the area.

The latest update said: "The scene is still active. The streets remain closed. We are still trying to come to a peaceful resolution."


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