Woman 'held hostage inside Mali consulate in Barcelona' as negotiators desperately try to free her
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Terror cops have stormed the Mali Consulate in Barcelona amid reports a diplomat's wife is being held hosptage.
Armed police rushed to the consulate in the Catalan capital after receiving a phone call from José Luis López Fernández, warning that his wife was being held inside, according to reports.
The alleged attacker, who is believed to be from Mali, has been holding the woman prisoner in the building - located in Avinguda Josep Tarradellas - for almost four hours, according to Catalan police.
The man is reportedly refusing to let the woman go without assurance that his documents are given to him, according to Antena 3.
(Image: @mossos/Twitter)
(Image: @Undercover_Camo/Twitter)
A group of negotiators are reportedly in the building trying to free the woman after she was taken prisoner just after 3pm local time (4pm GMT).
It is not believed the man is armed, but he reportedly yet to release her, reports El Pais.
A spokesman for The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalonia police) described it as an "open incident" on Twitter.
Just after 7pm local time (6pm GMT), They wrote: "Open incident to the Consulate of Mali after receiving a call that a woman held inside.
(Image: @Undercover_Camo/Twitter)
The alleged intruder is already identified.
"Specialised police are negotiating with citizen of Mali from 15 hours has retained a woman inside of the Consulate of this country.
"We have sealed off the perimeter of the Consulate of Mali, in the Avenida Josep Tarradellas.
"The police are still negotiating with the man to let the woman."