A member of Vodafone staff was held hostage in a First Mobile Vodafone store in New Zealand's Whangarei last week, after a woman walked into the store brandishing an air rifle and attacked a male staff member. The remaining staff were able to escape out of a back door from the store. The woman, who has not been identified was later shot dead by armed police after she left the store and pointed her gun at the police.
Local media reports suggested that the woman may have been high on some form of drug or other substance. She has also the dubious distinction of being the first woman shot dead by New Zealand's police.
In a statement, Vodafone said that it "regrets this terrible incident and our first priority is the care of our staff who were in the store at the time. We have arranged counselling and will provide whatever ongoing support is needed." adding, "Our thoughts are with all involved and the staff of the Whangarei store in particular. They acted calmly and responsibly during a tense situation and while they are obviously shaken and upset they are otherwise unharmed."
The area outside the shop was sealed off for a couple of days as police carried out their investigation and interviewed witnesses. None of the Vodafone staff were physically hurt.
Posted to the site on 26th October 2008
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/34312.php