Hostage taker who made captive wear 'explosive vest' surrenders in Brazil

An armed man who took an employee hostage at a hotel in the Brazilian capital and forced him to don a vest apparently stuffed with explosives has surrendered, authorities said.

The gunman called a hotel courier in the early hours of Monday and pushed him into a room on the 13th floor of the Saint Peter Hotel, a police spokesman said.

"He has given himself up," the spokesman said.

It was not known if the apparent explosives were real, police commissioner Paulo Henrique Almeida said, adding that an investigation had been opened.

"We were concerned that he was making no specific demands," Almeida said.

The hostage was not wearing the vest when the assailant surrendered to Brasilia police.