Child taken as hostage

A 6-year-old child was taken hostage by a knife-wielding robber during the robbery of a Palmerston North minimart last night.

The robber entered the Kelvin Grove Minimart in Rhodes Drive between 7.15 and 7.30pm and grabbed the child, who was at the counter.

With the youngster in one hand and the knife in the other, he demanded money and was handed cash by the female shop attendant.

He then let the child go and left the shop.

He is described as a Maori or Pacific Islander in his late teens, around 178cm tall and slim-built.

He was wearing dark clothing and had covered his face in material.

The woman and child were "shaken but not hurt", said Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan, of Palmerston North CIB.

It was "quite possible" that several people had seen the thief either hanging around before the robbery or running away afterwards, he said.

Mr Sheridan urged anyone with information to contact the police.

- NZPA