Taiwan prisoner crisis ends in suicide with hostages unharmed

[TAIPEI] Six armed inmates in a prison in the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung killed themselves, ending a 14-hour siege without harming the prison warden or head guard they were holding hostage, Central News Agency reported.

The deaths occurred after 5 am in Taiwan, the Taipei- based news agency said. The warden was held until the end while the head guard had been released earlier, CNA said.

The inmates, unhappy about their treatment, first seized two guards on Wednesday to take their rifles, CNA reported earlier. While the kidnappers fired shots into air, there weren't injuries in the incident, CNA said.

The warden entered negotiations with the prisoners and volunteered for a hostage swap, the local news agency said. The kidnappers later released one prison officer and police sent in food and warm clothing during the night, according to CNA.

The prisoners involved were serving time for offenses ranging from burglary to murder, with sentences of 25 years to life without parole, Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang said in comments carried on local television channels Wednesday.

The inmates demanded a car to leave the prison and the government brought in members of the prisoners' families to help negotiate, according to CNA.

BLOOMBERG