Swiss Authorities Kill Hostage-Taker Armed with an Axe on a Train

A man armed with an axe and a knife took 15 passengers hostage on a train in Switzerland. The hostage-taker, a 32-year-old asylum seeker from Iran, got on the train near Yverdon and forced the driver to stop. He then made the driver join the passengers in the carriage. Police were alerted by passengers, and over 60 officers surrounded the train. They tried to communicate with the man in English and Farsi but were unsuccessful. Eventually, officers stormed the train when they saw the hostage-taker separate from the passengers. The man attacked the police, and they shot him, resulting in his death. All the hostages were released unharmed. The motive for the hostage-taking remains unclear. The man appeared stressed according to one passenger. The Swiss health service is providing support to the hostages and their families. The man, originally from Iran, was living in an asylum seeker center in Neuchatel. Hostage situations are rare in Switzerland, with previous incidents occurring at banks and businesses.