KYODO NEWS - Apr 21, 2020 - 18:25 | All, Japan

A hostage standoff in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka ended Tuesday afternoon when police arrested a man at an eel restaurant where he had been holding two young girls captive, authorities said.

The girls aged 3 and 6, the restaurant owner's children, were apparently unharmed after being held for six hours by Yuki Watanabe, a 35-year-old former employee, who was armed with a knife, police said.

Watanabe was fired several days ago, according to a 36-year-old friend of the owner.

"I had a grudge and was dissatisfied while I was working (at the restaurant)," Watanabe was quoted as telling the police. He was arrested for trespassing and confinement.

Watanabe initially entered the restaurant around 8:30 a.m. and suddenly hit the owner on the head, according to the friend, who talked with the owner after the incident.