Armed Siege at Belgian Apartment

Belgian police say four armed gunmen have taken over an apartment in a housing complex in Ghent. Unconfirmed reports say they have taken a hostage, as well. The incident occurred hours after the ongoing hostage situation in Sydney began, but Belgian authorities stressed that there doesn’t appear to be any link between the two, nor any indication that the Ghent attack was motivated by Islamic extremism or political goals. “This isn’t the same sort of incident as the events in Sydney,” said Annemie Serlippens, a spokeswoman for Belgian prosecutor. Police have surrounded the area and have all they “need to bring a successful end to a hostage-taking,” said Ghent police chief Filip Rasschaert.