Suspect Takes Hostages at L.A. Consulate

[Rose Siding]

LOS ANGELES - At least one suspect took an unknown number of hostages Tuesday morning at the Mexican consulate near downtown, police said.


A portion of the area was evacuated after the incident began about 8:30 a.m., said Officer Kristi Sandoval, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department.


Police cordoned off several blocks around the building in the MacArthur Park neighborhood and ambulances and fire trucks gathered nearby.


A KTTV news helicopter hovering above the building showed video of several people standing near windows of the four-story building.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=718&e=3&u=/ap/20041109/ap_on_re_us/consulate_standoff

[UpInArms]

1. 10 hostages taken at Mexican consulate in L.A. -reports

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/newsfinder/pulseone.asp?dateid=38300.5380630903-826224752&siteID=mktw&scid=0&doctype=806&

12:54pm 11/09/04

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Ten hostages have been taken at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to Fox Los Angeles-affiliate KTTV. Shots were reportedly fired at the consulate, according to CNN. The consulate is at the 2400 block of 6th St.

*********

[madrchsod]

2. watching on ktla

i`m missing jerry! isn`t sat tv wonderful,watching in northern il.

[Rose Siding]

3. ABC News: Police said...

A police tactical team was sent to the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles on Tuesday to deal with a report of a standoff involving at least one hostage, police said.

Police said the Los Angeles Police Department was put on a citywide tactical alert and roads around the consulate in the city's downtown area were sealed off. The FBI also dispatched agents to the scene.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=238718

[LibLabUK]

4. Questions...

Are Consulates foreign soil like Embassies?

If so, would the hostage-taker be subject to Mexican or US law?

And finally, who does hostage rescue in cases like this; would it be FBI-HRT or local law enforcement or military (Delta)?

[TO Kid]

6. Answers

I worked security at the Polish consulate in Toronto in the 1980s. Although they are foreign soil, local law enforcement can enter and act with the permission of consular officials. Local laws apply.

[DS1]

5. Let the decaptations begin!

Bring em on!!!!

You're next, Mehico!

[Jack_DeLeon]

7. WTF

what exactly is your point?