Divorce row spirals into hostage situation

(JB) Police were forced to intervene in a divorce row when a Gasperich man held his daughter at gun point on Wednesday night.

A special police unit was called to the address in rue Rene Weimerskirch, in Gasperich, at about 10pm following reports from a woman that her husband had taken their daughter hostage.

According to police, a 38-year-old male going through a difficult divorce had visited the house that evening in order to discuss the separation when he became upset and drew a gun.

The wife and one other daughter managed to flee the house but a second daughter, aged 18 years old, was held at gun point.

Police cordoned off the area with roadblocks. After nearly four hours of talks they were eventually able to coax the man from the house at about 1.45am. He was disarmed and arrested.

The suspect was already known to police having been charged with domestic violence and alcohol abuse in 2009.