A 53-year-old man has been charged over a weekend hostage-taking at a bowling alley in the English Midlands.
David Clarke was charged with two counts of false imprisonment, one count of criminal damage and two counts of possession of a bladed article after the incident in the town of Nuneaton, Warwickshire police said in a statement.
He also faces one charge of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and two counts of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Police were called to a bowling alley on Sunday afternoon after reports a man had entered the building with a firearm. He reportedly brandished a shotgun at terrified customers and took two people hostage.
He was later arrested when officers stormed the building, freeing both hostages unharmed.
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Clarke is being held in custody and will appear at a court on Tuesday, police said.
Initial reports suggested that Clarke may have previously been in a relationship with an employee at the bowling alley. Police confirmed on Sunday that the incident was not terrorism-related.
