Gunman surrenders, releases hostages

LONDON -- A gunman holding four employees hostage at a bank in central London on Thursday surrendered after a two-hour standoff with police.

The unidentified suspect was taken into custody by police, who had surrounded the HSBC bank on Buckingham Palace Road, just 300 yards from Scotland Yard.

Nobody was injured in the standoff, which police said appeared to be a robbery attempt. A second man who was believed to be part of the robbery attempt was arrested earlier outside the bank.

Police told The Associated Press that four staff members were in the building at the time.

A wide area around the bank was cordoned off, causing a huge traffic snarl in the city center.