21.   A gunman has taken seven people hostage in an office block in a Melbourne suburb, police said Wednesday.

22.   A gunman took a hostage Thursday at an American Express office in central London, police said.

23.   A gunman took hostage a bus full of tourists Friday and shot and seriously injured a police officer, police spokesmen said.

24.   About a dozen gunmen took cover near buildings lining Manger Square, just outside the church, early Tuesday.

25.   Ahmed said the gunmen took away the belongings of the lone man among the tourists and ordered the others to go back.

26.   An attendant was slapped in the face as the gunmen took money from a cash register, police said.

27.   Before fleeing in a waiting car the gunmen took the weapons from the slain constable and his wounded partner, Ahmed said.

28.   Before fleeing in a waiting car, the gunmen took the weapons from the slain bodyguard and his wounded partner.

29.   Both local police and state television reported a small child was wounded in the action, after gunmen took it hostage.

30.   But investigators also noted that the bullets were found within a few hundred feet of each other, suggesting the gunman took aim at the White House.