A MAN APPARENTLY KILLED HIMSELF UNDER UNCLEAR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER CLAIMING TO HAVE TAKEN A HOSTAGE IN THE SWEDISH CITY OF TABY NEAR STOCKHOLM ON SUNDAY, POLICE REPORTED, ACCORDING TO DPA. A WOMAN WAS SEVERELY INJURED AS THE MAN SHOT RANDOMLY AT PASSERSBY IN THE TOWN CENTRE, POLICE SAID, ADDING THAT THE ASSAILANT HAD TELEPHONED POLICE TO SAY HE HAD TAKEN A SECOND WOMAN HOSTAGE. POLICE REPORTS SAY THE 21-YEAR-OLD MAN, WHO WAS BELIEVED TO BE MENTALLY ILL, BEGAN HIS RAMPAGE ABOUT 4.00 AM (200AM GMT), OPENING FIRE ON PEOPLE MAKING THEIR WAY HOME. AN 18-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IS BEING TREATED IN HOSPITAL FOR A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE LEG. THE MAN IS THEN REPORTED TO HAVE TELEPHONED POLICE TO SAY HE WAS HOLDING A SECOND WOMAN HOSTAGE. POLICE UNITS, BACKED UP BY HELICOPTERS SURROUNDED THE SCENE IN A TWO-HOUR STANDOFF. THE BLOOD-COVERED BODY OF THE MAN WAS EVENTUALLY FOUND IN THE LIFT OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING, A WEAPON LYING NEAR HIM. POLICE CONTINUED TO LOOK FOR THE ALLEGED KIDNAPPING VICTIM BUT IT IS NOW THOUGHT THE MAN'S CLAIMS WERE FALSE.
