The alleged Alotau armed robbery and hostage situation could be a hoax.
Provincial Police Commander, Joseph Morehari, told TVWan News today, he is more than certain that is the case, but has given orders for a full investigation to establish what led to the chaos.
After 5 hours of a ‘situation lock down’, Morehari said he was advised that PNG Air staff had locked themselves in because of an alleged armed robbery that was taking place in the shop next door.
However, they will still treat this as a hostage report until they establish what had actually happened yesterday.
On social media, Alotau MP Charles Abel said there were no criminals and no hostages – saying police and the public had overreacted because of the armed robbery that took place over the weekend.
Abel said both events have certainly affected the tourism industry.
Tourist ship Pacific Aria was in Alotau with over 100 tourists – some of whom were unaccounted for when the commotion erupted.
Its security has since suspended tourist packages to Alotau, Milne Bay Province.
(Alotau residents gathering around the Airlines PNG office yesterday. Picture: Supplied)