A man has been arrested following a major police operation in which a woman was allegedly held hostage for five hours.
Emergency services were called to the Homestead Motel on Cherry Street in Ballina on the New South Wales mid-north coast at 12pm on Friday.
Richmond Police District officers were called to the motel regarding a welfare-related call.
NSW Police said officers were told a man in his 30s was inside one of the units allegedly holding a 29-year-old woman against her will.
Ambulance crews and fire services were on standby as police responded to the incident for five hours.
Members of the public reported on social media that the man was allegedly holding a person hostage at the motel.
“Following a five-hour police operation, the man was arrested at 5pm,” New South Wales Police said.
The woman was released without injuries.
A man has been arrested after a five-hour siege on the New South Wales north coast
Ballina Homestead Motel, where the siege took place on Friday afternoon
A police tactical team was on the scene and the woman was released unharmed after a tense standoff.
The man was arrested and taken to Ballina Police Station where he is assisting police with enquiries.
Investigations into the incident are continuing.
(tags to translate)dailymail
