1 injured, 30 held hostage in Manila mall (Ld)

Manila, March 2 At least one person was injured and 30 were being held hostage on Monday by a disgruntled armed security guard inside a shopping mall in the Philippines' capital of Manila, according to police.

Metro Manila police Inspector Robin Rivera told Efe news that a shooting occurred inside the Green Hills shopping centre, popular for the sale of counterfeit goods, adding that the assailant allegedly acted after being dismissed from his job.

The suspect is former mall employee Archie Paray, 41, who is wielding firearms and could have explosives, according to initial police reports.

Paray allegedly told police over a video call that he wanted to denounce his and other partners' "unfair" dismissals and demanded that everyone be hired anew.

A waitress from a nearby establishment told Efe news that she heard shots at about 11 a.m. and saw a Green Hills security officer wounded.

Social media footage showed employees and passers-by fleeing the scene after hearing shots.

Some teams had already access the mall, and police officers were negotiating with the suspect, who has allegedly calmed down.

( With inputs from IANS )