Jobless hostage-taker blames "anguish" for drama in bar

The 49-year-old unemployed man who took two people hostage at a bar Saturday night in Vallecas, Madrid, and held them for nearly four hours told police following his arrest that he "wanted to draw attention" to his "situation of personal anguish."

Two hostage negotiators from the police force, who helped win the release of the bar owner and a friend after nearly four hours of tense discussions, told a news conference Sunday that the suspect was not under any effects of drugs or alcohol, but that he had acknowledged that he was taking medication for depression.

The dramatic incident began shortly before 7pm when Tomás Carmona, the owner of Bar Tomás, arrived at his place of business. At that moment, a "a bald man wearing a white shirt" barged into the place and pointed a gun at him, according to his wife, Francisca Antolín.

The owner's son, also named Tomás, 18, was about to enter the bar when his father shouted at him, "Don't come in. Call the police."

After the suspect, identified as J. C. A. I., took the bar owner and a 26-year-old friend hostage, police units and SAMUR emergency medical teams immediately surrounded the area.

The two men only suffered from "light bruises" on their necks and throats after they were released but they "were very nervous," explained Carlos Barra, SAMUR's director on duty. As for the suspect, Barra said he was "very calm" after he gave himself up.

During the news conference, the police negotiators didn't reveal too many details on how they were able to convince J. C. A. I. to release the hostages. The suspect had made a series of demands, including a Porsche Cayenne with a trunk full of supplies, a bed sheet so he could cover himself as he left the bar, a bullet-proof jacket, a helmet and latex gloves.

During the time they were held hostage, the suspect pointed the gun, which contained blanks, to the 26-year-old's chest and head, according to the negotiators. They explained that they had a difficult time determining how dangerous the situation was because they could only speak to the owner on his cellphone. It wasn't until just minutes before J. C. A. I. gave himself up that they were able to talk to the suspect.

The hostages were first released before the suspect emerged shirtless. J. C. A. I. did not resist arrest when he was taken into custody.