Children rescued after armed standoff

Police carry a small child from a house in Glen Innes after a man with a knife held two children hostage. Picture / Dean Purcell

Two young children were carried to safety by police in Glen Innes yesterday after a two-hour hostage standoff with an armed man .

The man is understood to have taken a 9-month-old baby and a 17-month-old toddler hostage after a dispute with the children's mother.

Armed with a knife, he refused to let the children go and police spent more than an hour trying to talk him into giving himself up.

Senior Sergeant Donovan Clarke said police were called to the Ridgeway Place house by family members who dialled 111 asking for help.

Dozens of police - including dog handlers, negotiators and the armed offenders squad - flocked to the usually quiet suburban street about 3pm.

As the road was cordoned off curious residents gathered at a section that overlooked the backyard of the house.

By 4pm armed police, the dog squad and negotiators had taken up positions at the back of the house and front door.

Moments later one of the armed offenders squad carried the first of the two children from the house.

The child, believed to be the 9-month-old, clung tightly to the officer who also had a weapon on his back.

Fifteen minutes later the second child was also carried to safety.

A white plastic bag containing cigarettes and drinks was taken into the house soon after.

At 4.30pm the man surrendered and walked out of the house and into the street. He was surrounded by police, including the relieved but tired-looking negotiator.

"We were able to get both the children out and the man without incident," said Mr Clarke.

He said the children were reunited with their mother and the family offered victim support.

As the negotiator rode off on motorbike, shocked neighbours regrouped to discuss the dramatic event in their street.

"He was a quiet man," one woman said.