http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,138044,00.html
LOS ANGELES — A dramatic hostage situation was underway Tuesday morning at the Mexican Consulate in downtown Los Angeles, police and local television stations reported.
Two different sources said between seven and 10 people were being held by up to three masked men on the fourth floor of the consulate, KTTV reported, without being able to confirm those figures.
One report said a woman had been released by the gunmen.
Another report said the Mexican consul general was outside the building and talking with police.
The Los Angeles Police Department (search) went on a citywide tactical alert, and a SWAT team was sent to the building in the 2400 block of West Sixth Street.
The incident began at about 8:30 a.m. with at least one suspect starting the hostage situation, LAPD spokeswoman Kristi Sandoval said.
A telephone call to the Mexican consulate's press office was not immediately returned.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.