Police respond to reported mass hostage-taking at Manila mall

Heavily armed police were deployed at a mall in the Philippine capital Manila on Monday after reports that a disgruntled employee was holding a group of people hostage, an AFP journalist saw.

The mayor of a section of Manila had earlier told journalists that a security guard was holding up to 30 people in an administrative office and had shot at least one person.

"We are currently negotiating with the hostage-taker," Zamora said.

Zamora said the gunman shot and injured one person who was taken to a nearby hospital, he added.

Initial news reports said the attack happened at around 10 a.m. and was still ongoing.

Entry to the mall was sealed.