Milan - At least three people were injured yesterday after Italian assault police stormed a Milan bank ending a siege which had lasted more than 24 hours, media reported. State television reported that two policemen had been slightly injured after shots were fired during the assault. Sicilian gunman, Domenico Gargano, who held up the bank, was also injured.
A police investigator initially told reporters Gargano had surrendered. But senior officers said he was still in the bank alone with a revolver.
After earlier releasing four hostages in stages and handing over a hand grenade, Gargano issued a final demand that police drive him around the city so that he could distribute ransom money already handed over to him, state television reported.
Gargano (35), seized four hostages on Monday night and demanded a ransom of 10 billion lire (£4 million) for their release. All four were released during lengthy negotiations and police paid Gargano four billion lire.