Toddlers Freed After Police Standoff With Sword-Wielding Man

A 17-year-old carrying two swords took 20 children hostage at a school in eastern France Monday.

After a few very tense hours, all the children were released unharmed when elite French police infiltrated the nursery school where they were being held. Earlier Monday morning a sword-wielding youth burst into the nursery school in the city of Besancon and took 20 children and one teacher hostage. He released most of the children throughout the course of the day but kept the teacher and five toddlers aged four to six captive. Negotiators remained in contact with the kidnapper for several hours and police eventually overwhelmed him while the children were being served food. Local media is reporting that the young man is from the area and has a history of psychological problems and depression.