A hostage drama in a Swedish prison took a special turn yesterday afternoon when the two hostage takers demanded pizzas in exchange for the release of one of the two guards held hostage. The hostage takers were overpowered a few hours after the food was delivered.
The hostage-taking at Hällby Prison in Eskilstuna began around noon. Two inmates convicted of murder overpowered two guards and holed up in the guardroom of a ward.
Initially, the two demanded a helicopter to flee with. A few hours later, they changed their demand: pizza for all twenty inmates in the ward in exchange for one of the guards.
Not paid
The negotiators decided to give in to the demand and passed the unusual order to a local pizzeria. Interesting detail: the prison staff who came to pick up the pizzas from pizza baker Beshar Toma apparently did not have any money with them, because Toma, according to themselves, was not paid, writes the Swedish TV channel SVT.
In exchange for the pizzas, one of the hostages was released as agreed. A few hours later, the other guard was also released and the hostage-takers surrendered. Prison officials declined to provide details.
The hostage takers were taken to the Eskilstuna police station. They will later stand trial for deprivation of liberty.
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