took hostage: took under one's control with force in hopes of exchanging people's lives for personal needs
extortion: the gaining of money by an authority who uses threats
ordeal: an experience that is very difficult or painful
siege: an attempt to take control of an area
stand down: to give up one's efforts to take control
sniper: a gunman who is trained to shoot a target from a long distance away
Bus Hostage Ordeal Ends Tragically
Ex-police officer Rolando Mendoza took a hostage in Manila this August. The hostage taker was protesting his dismissal from duty, which reportedly came before his planned retirement and was based on extortion charges. Nine hostages were released during the 12 hour ordeal, including and her three children. The gunman spoke out on the radio vowing to kill all of the hostages if the police outside the bus did not stand down. After the bus driver escaped out a window the police the bus and Mendoza used the hostages as human shields. The highly trained gunman was finally killed by a sniper after tear gas was used. 8 Hong Kong tourists died during the ordeal, including 3 with Canadian.
Comprehension Questions:
What reason did Rolando Mendoza have for taking the bus passengers hostage?
Why does the report mention the radio?
How did the police finally kill Mendoza?
Discussion Question:
The gunman became agitated after watching his brother being arrested on TV. He then began shooting and killed several hostages. Could the media be partly to blame for the deaths of these passengers?
Bus Hostage Ordeal Ends Tragically Ex-police officer Rolando Mendoza took a tour bus hostage in Manila this August. The hostage taker was protesting his dismissal from duty, which reportedly came one year before his planned retirement and was based on extortion charges. Nine hostages were released during the 12 hour ordeal, including a mother and her three children. The gunman spoke out on the radio vowing to kill all of the hostages if the police outside the bus did not stand down. After the bus driver escaped out a window the police stormed the bus and Mendoza used the hostages as human shields. The highly trained gunman was finally killed by a sniper after tear gas was used. 8 Hong Kong tourists died during the ordeal, including 3 with Canadian passports.
Comprehension Answers:
Rolando Mendoza was dismissed from duty as a police officer due to extortion charges.
Rolando communicated with police by making his demands on the radio.
The police threw tear gas into the bus and a sniper shot Mendoza.
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