We have a live hostage situation going on in downtown Kingston

[malaise]

Three gunmen are holding staff and patrons of a Juici beef franchise for the past two hours. Police and soldiers surround the building and have secured the area but the gunmen say if the security forces don't leave they will kill hostages one by one.

We're waiting to hear how many people are in the restaurant - Juici Beef is one of the more popular restaurants in Jamaica. They are all over the island.

[Warpy]

1. Idiots. I hope they don't manage to kill anyone

and that everyone gets out unhurt.

What kind of demands are they making?

[malaise]

3. We don't know yet

Four gunmen not three.
They entered through a side entrance and locked themselves in.

We're betting it started out as robbery.

[RandomThoughts]

2. As a metaphor.

If a system threatens to kill people, either by economic, ecological, social, or even by wars. If that system uses average civilians as hostages.

If they say people will die if you do not give them your power, what do you do?

You storm in and stop the mother fuckers.


Not about that hostage situation, but as a metaphor for those that would use violence and threats to maintain power.



And people that take political office should realize they go behind enemy lines when they take those positions, and have to be prepared to roll on terrorist, even financial or political, that threaten them.


We all are going to die.

"Die Standing Up"

[malaise]

4. Don't forget last May in Jamaica

Criminals are still on the run since then. What's more the IMF program demands more and more layoffs.

We're living Shock Doctrine and gunmen (some linked to said politicians) on the loose.

[Chan790]

6. Generally it's the right approach to hostage takers as well.

At least after diplomacy fails.

We had one here in suburban MD in the Discovery Tower earlier this week. They let him talk and talk and talk, gave him every chance to walk out of it alive for over 4 hours. The second he became agitated and pointed the gun at the hostages, the sniper they managed to get inside the perimeter neutralized him and SWAT stormed the lobby to secure the bomb and escort the hostages from the lobby to safety.

While I am certain they did not want to storm the lobby or kill the hostage-taker, in that instant it became the necessary action. Communication had broken down and his behavior was increasingly erratic, further delay would have endangered more lives.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Hitting the news. Some hostages released. Link:

Three of the people held hostage at the Juici Patties restaurant downtown, Kingston have now been released.

Those released are all women.

They have since been whisked away by the police.

For more than an hour, gunmen have taken staff and customers hostage at the Juici Patties at the corner of Beckford and West streets.

It's understood that children are among those held hostage.

The number of gunmen inside the building is still not yet clear.

The Gleaner/Power 106 News team is on the scene and more information is to follow.

http://www.go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=22317

````

[malaise]

7. The radio link also has updates

We're switching stations and talking to friends.

[malaise]

8. Store Manager still being held

Hostage negotiators are on the way. No contact made by police with hostages so far. This looks like robbery.
Oh gawd who gave this idiot a mike to talk.

[malaise]

13. All hostages freed

Police team still in Juici Beef but apparently the four gunmen escaped using a side door.

Surprise, surprise!!

[applegrove]

9. vibes to the kidnapped.

[malaise]

10. Five now released inclduing a child

http://www.go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=22317

Staff members and customers have been held hostage since about 6pm.

Five of those who were held hostage including the child have now been released.

Word is that at least 12 security people are now in the building.

[jwirr]

11. The IMF has pushed many countries into the kind of mess that ends

in violence. They give poor economic advice and borrow money to back the poor advice up. When it doesn't work then they squeeze the people for all they are worth. That is one of the things I would like to see ended by forgiving these loans.

[malaise]

12. This is both the legacy of the IMF and the aftermath of the Dudus

extradition. Bad boys are now displaced and unemployed; extortion rings have been destroyed and they have no leaders.
Prior to Dud's departure to the US, they would have collected their 'earnings' on Friday evening as usual from business owners.
It will get worse - believe me.

[jwirr]

14. I have no doubt it is going to get worse. One of my biggest heartaches

is every check and letter I send the little boy in Africa for Compassion. The question of course is - are we really going to be able to help him? I tried sending tomato seeds one time and both the country and Compassion said no. We do a lot complaining about how it is in the US and it is bad but we have nothing like many other nations. I seldom think USA - this mess is global.