Gunman kills himself after taking child hostage

A man killed himself today after holding a child hostage at gunpoint for three hours.

The youngster was snatched by the 50-year-old gunman last night before being held captive in Dingwall, Ross-shire.

Police managed to negotiate the child's safe release after several hours of talks, but despite further negotiations the gunman later killed himself, Northern Constabulary said.

Police launched a major operation in the Highlands last night after receiving an emergency call from Beauly saying a child had been snatched by a man with a firearm.

The man was traced to nearby Dingwall where police sealed off the area and opened talks with the man. At around 1am, they managed to persuade him to release the child but at 4.20am the man took his own life.

A police spokesman said: "Police responded to a 999 call from Beauly at 10pm on Tuesday, which reported a disturbance involving the abduction of a child by a man suspected to be in possession of a firearm, who had threatened self-harm.

"Police traced the man to the area of the Ferry Road in Dingwall and cordoned off the vicinity. Following negotiations, the safe release of the child hostage was secured around 1am today.

"In spite of further lengthy negotiations and police efforts to resolve the incident peacefully, the 50-year-old man took his own life at around 4.20am."