Hostage or hijack situations involve the unlawful detention of an individual or group. The distinction between a hostage and kidnapping situation is that the location of the victim is typically known during a hostage situation, and that hostage events are typically resolved more swiftly than a kidnapping event. Hijacking is typically the taking of hostages when in transit, either when individuals or groups are in land‐based vehicles, maritime vessels, or aircraft. Hijackers may be motivated by many of the same motives as kidnappers. Hostage situations may involve disgruntled employees, personal disputes, criminals, or in the most extreme cases activists, insurgents, or terror groups.
The nature of the operating environment will determine the approach used to manage a hostage or hijacking situation. Hostage negotiation is a specialist field, and company managers should not enter into discussions with the perpetrators. The following considerations should be applied to hostage situations:
§ What are the motives or agendas of the individual or group?
§ Does the individual or group have a history of undertaking hostage situations? If so, what were the outcomes?
§ Who has been taken hostage, and what is the victim's mental and medical condition?
§ Was the hostage targeted specifically or indiscriminately?
§ Has this been planned, or was it spontaneous or unintentional?
§ Are the perpetrators armed and violent?
§ Have the perpetrators made realistic or unrealistic demands?
§ How effective are local law enforcement and other agencies in dealing with hostage situations?
§ Are other personnel at risk?
§ Has the area been cleared and cordoned off?
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