(TJV) A man wielding an ax and knife took 14 passengers and a train driver hostage inside a train car that was stopped at the Essert-sous-Champvent station near Yverdon-les-Bains.
During a standoff that lasted nearly four hours, the Iranian allegedly professed a desire to commit terror attacks in Great Britain.
Switzerland – Astonishing footage of the axe wielding Muslim Asylum seeker on board the train where he held 15 hostages for 5 hours last night before being eliminated by special opps. He chillingly talks of London and Britain, where he aimed to commit terror acts🇨🇭🇬🇧☪️🪓 pic.twitter.com/JW6uC4K32w
— 🇬🇧RonEnglish🇬🇧🏴 (@RonEng1ish) February 9, 2024
Multiple videos shot both inside and outside the train have been circulating on social media.
A hostage negotiator communicated with the Iranian in Farsi but an agreement could not be reached. Eventually, special forces used explosives to distract the Iranian while storming the train and shooting him dead., Swiss media media reported.
Terror in Switzerland where an Iranian asylum seeker armed with a knife and ax kidnaps 15 people on a train but fortunately is eliminated thanks to a raid by Swiss special forces. pic.twitter.com/HQaAmf17Lb
— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) February 9, 2024
“As the hostage-taker rushed with his axe in the direction of the intervention group, a police officer used his weapon to protect the hostages, fatally hitting the perpetrator,” a spokesman for the cantonal police explained.
None of the hostages were injured during the harrowing ordeal.
“According to initial information, the 32-year-old man is an Iranian asylum seeker assigned to canton Neuchâtel who speaks Farsi and English,” SwissInfo reports.
The intervention reportedly required nearly 100 law enforcement officers and rescue workers.
Authorities claim the motive for the attack is unclear but have ruled out terrorism.
