101.   Gunmen had earlier taken the hostages in a robbery attempt in downtown Philadelpia, a city official said.

102.   A female employee inside the bureau, which was open at the time of the robbery attempt, was slightly injured and taken to hospital suffering from shock.

103.   A police constable was shot dead in another part of the city by fleeing bandits after their robbery attempt was foiled, according to police.

104.   The robbery attempt began before noon when two security guards arrived outside the store to make either a delivery or a collection.

105.   It was her second robbery attempt of the day.

106.   Several similar robbery attempts have been reported in area in recent months.