Estonia Defence Ministry gunman kills himself

A gunman who took hostages at the Estonian defence ministry killed himself and the two hostages escaped unharmed as police intervened yesterday, a police spokesman said.

Spokesman Mihkel Loide told the local Delfi news agency that the gunman shot himself while hostages escaped during the police operation. One ministry official was quoted by Delfi as saying the gunman was a former member of the Estonian defence forces.

The gunman was earlier reported to have set off an explosive device and fired shots.

Police cordoned off the ministry building and evacuated workers. “The people have been evacuated from the building,” Tallinn police spokeswoman Aleksandra Solntseva earlier told the Baltic News Service (BNS).

An official statement on the incident was expected later yesterday, security officials said.