A MAN has been charged after two women were held hostage in a charity office during an armed siege in Birmingham’s Irish quarter.
Michal Malecki, 31, of no fixed abode, was charged with false imprisonment and wounding two women he held in an office at Bita Pathways in Alcester Street, Digbeth on Wednesday, August 19.
The man is due to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court later today.
Malecki entered the office of mental health charity BITA Pathways on Alcester Street just after 3pm on Wednesday.
He held the women hostage in an office for over four hours.
The first woman was released at 7.30pm and the second at 8pm.
The area surrounding the charity office was cordoned off and nearby buildings – including the Irish-run Spotted Dog pub – were evacuated.
A police negotiator was called in to resolve the situation.
Both women are receiving support following their ordeal, with one of the women needing hospital treatment for injuries to her arm and neck.
Chief Inspector Sean Russell, from Force CID, said: "Fortunately these types of incidents are rare and the individual concerned has been charged with a number of very serious offences and will be appearing at court today.”
John Tighe, 68, the landlord of The Spotted Dog pub, recalled the events, which saw his pub evacuated by police.
“The police based themselves at the pub and evacuated it,” said Mr Tighe. “There were half a dozen guys, they (the police) looked like they had guns.
“A wedding party was meant to have a party at our pub at five o’clock, we had decorations arranged and a barbeque.”
West Midlands Police said that the incident is not believed to be pre-meditated.
They confirmed the man was not connected to the charity and that he was not armed when he entered the building.
