A suspected gunman has taken at least two people hostage in a post office in Japan after wounding two others in a shooting at a hospital.
The government of the city of Warabi, just north of Tokyo, said in a statement that an undetermined number of hostages were taken by a man "in possession of something like a handgun".
At least two female post office workers in their 20s and 30s had been taken hostage, media reported.
The man, aged between 40 and 50 years, was earlier involved in a shooting at a hospital in the neighbouring city of Toda and then fled the scene, municipal authorities there said. Two people were injured at the hospital, media reported.
Images broadcast on television showed a man wearing a tracksuit top and white shirt standing just inside the post office brandishing what looked like a pistol. Several police officers wearing body armour were stationed nearby.
Colombia earthquake kills at least 22 as buildings collapse in several cities
Storms from Dolphin soak China's east, ground nearly 950 Shanghai flights
Indian police fire tear gas, use batons to disperse youth protesters
Ukraine kills 13 in drone strikes on Russian city of Nizhnekamsk, officials say
Yemeni military says Houthi attack on Mocha kills 7, wounds 30
