GUNMEN LAST night stormed a food establishment in downtown Kingston, holding an undetermined number of persons hostage.

At press time last night, a number of Jamaica Defence Force personnel and police officers were on the scene at the Juici Patties outlet at the corner of Beckford and West streets, where several employees were being held by thugs against their will.

Police with high-powered weapons hurriedly removed vendors from the area, many of whom were peddling back-to-school wares.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Jervis Taylor told The Sunday Gleaner that he could not confirm or deny reports that gunmen, customers and employees were in the food establishment.

However, about 15 minutes later, three female hostages were released from the establishment and whisked away by police personnel.

Vendors told our news team that several children were in the store when the thugs entered just before nightfall.

At 9 p.m., approximately three hours after the ordeal began, specialist police negotiators were not yet on the scene.

It was unclear what demands, if any, were made by the gunmen when they entered, or if anyone was hurt in the stand-off.