A gunman who took two hostages after storming the Estonian Defense Ministry in the capital city, Tallinn, on Thursday has killed himself, according to a police spokesman.

Spokesman Mihkel Loide told the local Delfi news agency that the gunman shot himself while the two hostages escaped during the ensuing police operation.

The gunman, who according to some reports spoke Russian, fired several shots and set off a smoke bomb after entering the ministry. The police surrounded the building and deployed a bomb crew during the incident, according to the Baltic News Agency.

Defense Minister Mart Laar was not in the building at the time of the incident and the Estonian media reported that the building was largely empty as many employees were on summer vacation.

The gunman's motive remains unclear.

Author: Spencer Kimball (AFP, Reuters, dpa)

Editor: Martin Kuebler