A hostage drama in an Amsterdam skyscraper ended after seven hours today, police said amid unconfirmed reports the gunman shot himself.
"It's finished," a police spokeswoman said, adding that further details about the incident would be given at a news conference later today.
Workers in the Rembrandt tower called friends and colleagues waiting outside to say the hostage taker had shot himself. "The guy killed himself. My girlfriend called me on the phone and now I'm waiting for her here," said Mr Karim el Jallap.
Dutch news agency ANP said the gunman had shot himself but was still alive and had been rushed to hospital.
Police, including marksmen, surrounded the office block after the gunman took several office workers hostage early this morning.