Man, 54, armed with a machete RELEASES nine hostages from Tennessee bank after four hours and is arrested by SWAT team

  • The man stormed Community First Bank in Columbia, Tennessee, at 2.30pm
  • He initially held nine hostages then let five go but held the other four back 
  • At around 6.30pm, he allowed the other four hostages to go free 
  • The man was arrested at around 11.30pm by a SWAT team which had been in place for hours
  • It is not known what his movies were but no one was injured in the hold up  

A 54-year-old man who is armed with a machete dramatically released nine hostages from a Tennessee bank on Friday night after keeping them against their will for four hours.

The man was arrested late on Friday night after the hold up at Community First Bank in Columbia. 

According to News Channel 5, he emerged of his own accord at 11.30pm. The network named him as Douglas Roach.  

He stormed the bank at 2.30pm, taking nine people hostage in what was at first feared to be an armed robbery. 

He released five people first then, hours later, allowed the remaining four to go. 

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Hostages who had been held for four hours inside Community First Bank in Columbia, Tennessee, on Friday are seen running to safety when the man let them go. It is not known if he is the man seen above opening the door 

Hostages who had been held for four hours inside Community First Bank in Columbia, Tennessee, on Friday are seen running to safety when the man let them go. It is not known if he is the man seen above opening the door 

At around 6.30pm, only he remained inside himself. A SWAT team which was already in place began encircling the bank to try to get him out safely. 

He was arrested at around 11.30pm. It is not clear what the man's motives were. 

None of the hostages were harmed in the hold-up. They were seen emerging from the bank with their arms in the air. 

As they walked out of the building, there were cheers from crowds of worried by-standers who had gathered to watch the drama unfold. 

Among the nine hostages was an elderly woman who emerged clutching a walking stick 

Among the nine hostages was an elderly woman who emerged clutching a walking stick 

Others held their hands up as police officers commanded them to clear the scene 

Others held their hands up as police officers commanded them to clear the scene 

The man was armed with a machete but he is not thought to have demanded money. A SWAT team was scrambled as the situation unfolded throughout the day

The man was armed with a machete but he is not thought to have demanded money. A SWAT team was scrambled as the situation unfolded throughout the day

A police officer is seen in tactical gear escorting a woman away from the scene in Columbia, Tennessee, on Friday

A police officer is seen in tactical gear escorting a woman away from the scene in Columbia, Tennessee, on Friday

Police and SWAT units surrounded the bank and cordoned off roads nearby as negotiators tried to diffuse the situation

Police and SWAT units surrounded the bank and cordoned off roads nearby as negotiators tried to diffuse the situation