SYNDICATE CITY:  Terrorists took control of New Millennium Mall late last night, holding 39 people hostage and meeting all negotiation attempts with gunfire.  The standoff ended shortly before midnight in a firefight that ended with three of the terrorists dead and six more injured.  None of the hostages were harmed.

The terrorist leader, identifying himself as Caldera, issued a statement that interfered with evening news broadcasts all over Syndicate City.  He demanded $39 million in exchange for the hostages, which he said would be used by the Mutant Army of Nationalism to fund a "mutant state where [the mutants] can be safe from oppression."

WVNC news anchor Andrea Meadows was on the scene last night and accompanied rock sensation turned hero Johnny Radd and a woman identified only as Shockwave on their heroic rescue operation.  Miss Meadows’ broadcast transcripts are available at the WVNC WebSite.

According to the play-by-play reports supplied by Miss Meadows to an anxious viewing audience, the heroes were able to enter the mall undetected and caught the terrorists unaware.  At least one terrorist was dead before the heroes entered the Food Court,where the hostages were being held.

The battle that followed the heroes flanking entrance left another terrorist in the room dead and six more severely injured.  As S.W.A.T. officers filled the room, Miss Meadows broadcast the last of her live reports for the evening.

Officers released the hostages from the duct tape used by the terrorists to bind their hands and feet.  None of the hostages were harmed.

Lieutenant Calabresi, the officer in charge at the scene, confirmed Miss Meadows’reports.

"We would have preferred to have gone in and taken the terrorists with no loss of life," Calabresi stated in his initial statement.  "There will be no charges filed against the 'capes' that went in, as no hostages were killed, and they were acting in defense of innocent citizens."

A total of nine terrorists were arrested, but their leader, Caldera, was not apprehended.

Miss Meadows reported that both Johnny Radd and Shockwave suffered gunshot wounds during the battle, but left the scene without comment and did not seek medical attention from EMS personnel.