Article

2005-02-07 Europe

Breaking News: Hostage takers seize consulate in Berne, Switzerland)

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Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2005-02-07 4:18:52 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 from AP at 5:35 EFL

Bern City Police spokeswoman Franziska Frey told The Associated Press that officers sealed off part of the Kirchenfeld neighborhood after they were alerted shortly after 8 a.m.

Federal Police Office spokeswoman Daniele Bersier said federal authorities had mobilized a special unit that deals with hostage situations.

There have been a handful of previous security crises at foreign embassies and consulates in Switzerland, notably in 1999.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-02-07 5:50:42 AM|| 2005-02-07 5:50:42 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 It's now over, apparently.

Posted by Bulldog 2005-02-07 6:11:21 AM|| 2005-02-07 6:11:21 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Maybe the Swiss offered free chocolate for a year, as mandated by their hostage negotiation rules.

Posted by Poison Reverse 2005-02-07 7:55:13 AM|| 2005-02-07 7:55:13 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Just heard on Fox that the Swiss authorities think it was a robbery attempt. That's right, a robbery. Either we have very dumb criminals or a very lame cover-up.

This being in Europe I don't know which...

Posted by Charles 2005-02-07 9:06:13 AM|| 2005-02-07 9:06:13 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 According to Europa Press they were after Spanish passports and visa seals .
And yes, Swiss chocolate is very good!
According to AP the robbery theory is from the Spanish Foreign Ministry, but the Swiss police being very discreet you may never know never. BTW Switzerland in not part of the EU

Posted by SwissTex 2005-02-07 9:55:48 AM|| 2005-02-07 9:55:48 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 BTW Switzerland in not part of the EU

It's still in Europe, isn't it? Or did the Helvetian Navy finally get enough towboats to move them?

I'm betting on it being terrorists who wanted a buttload of passports and visa seals. That way the robbery story isn't REALLY a lie, but the terrorist threat can be downplayed.

Posted by Robert Crawford 2005-02-07 10:09:01 AM|| [http://www.kloognome.com/] 2005-02-07 10:09:01 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Swiss Special Ops may not garner a great deal of publicity but they are quite... er... efficient. In a dealy sort of way. And, unfortunately for the terrs, the Swiss still adhear to the Napoleonic Code where they throw you in jail until you prove your innocence.

Posted by Chuck Simmins 2005-02-07 10:13:52 AM|| [http://blog.simmins.org] 2005-02-07 10:13:52 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 According to Swiss Info, the police found the consulate empty. The kidnappers are on the run...

Posted by SwissTex 2005-02-07 11:33:40 AM|| 2005-02-07 11:33:40 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 Yes! I can see how throwing out Anzar in the last election really helped save Spaniards from terrorism. It's REALLY obvious!

Posted by BigEd 2005-02-07 1:29:54 PM|| 2005-02-07 1:29:54 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Ima thinking a SwissTex Army Knife would really be a neat thing to have. I envision a Bowie knife with 12 different blades.

Posted by Shipman 2005-02-07 3:15:14 PM|| 2005-02-07 3:15:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 They subcontracted the surrounding part to the Saudis?

Posted by Phil Fraering 2005-02-07 7:17:11 PM|| [http://newsfromthefridge.typepad.com] 2005-02-07 7:17:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 I mean, don't they know you're supposed to hire Bangladeshis for this sort of thing?

Posted by Phil Fraering 2005-02-07 7:18:07 PM|| [http://newsfromthefridge.typepad.com] 2005-02-07 7:18:07 PM|| Front Page Top

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