Thai police say 2 senior officers have been taken hostage by Red Shirt protesters

2 police taken hostage by Thai protesters

BANGKOK — Thai police say two high-ranking officers have been taken hostage by Red Shirt anti-government protesters during a dramatic escape from a hotel by one of the protest leaders.

A spokesman from national police headquarters says that a police colonel and a police major general were being held by supporters of Arisman Pongruangrong, who evaded arrest by climbing down a hotel facade using a rope.

The spokesman said Friday that the Red Shirts had initially captured three officers but then released one.

Arisman said earlier that two police officers were taken hostage “to guarantee our safety.”