A man in his 80s who held two women hostage inside a post office in the city of Warabi, Japan, has been apprehended by the police after a standoff that lasted several hours, according to local media reports.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon local time when the gunman barricaded himself inside the post office, taking the women captive. One of the hostages was released, and the other was freed after the police intervened and detained the suspect, as reported by public broadcaster NHK. Fortunately, both women were unharmed during the ordeal, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear.

Earlier in the day, the same gunman was allegedly involved in a shooting at the nearby Toda Chuo General Hospital. In this incident, a doctor and an elderly patient sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect reportedly fled the hospital on a motorcycle.

During the standoff at the post office, a young woman managed to leave the building safely under police escort. The surrounding residents were advised to remain indoors, and buses were dispatched to a nearby school to ensure the safe return of children to their homes.

It is important to note that incidents involving shootings are uncommon in Japan due to the country’s strict gun ownership regulations. Japanese law permits civilians to own hunting rifles and airguns, subject to rigorous exams and mental health assessments.