Fact Check: "Hostages initially refused to leave captors for fear of police."
What We Know
The claim that hostages initially refused to leave their captors due to fear of police is supported by multiple accounts from the Norrmalmstorg robbery in 1973. During this incident, four bank employees were taken hostage by Jan-Erik Olsson and Clark Olofsson in Stockholm, Sweden. Reports indicate that the hostages expressed a lack of trust in the police, fearing that they would be shot if they attempted to escape. According to a BBC article, "Initially, hostages refused to leave their captors over fears they would be shot by police." This sentiment was echoed by Kristin Enmark, one of the hostages, who stated that she felt safer with the captors than with the police, who were perceived as a greater threat to their lives (source-2).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from firsthand accounts of the hostages and analyses of the situation. Kristin Enmark's testimony is particularly significant, as she described the police's aggressive tactics and their apparent disregard for the hostages' safety, which contributed to the hostages' decision to remain with their captors (source-1). The police's actions during the crisis, including pointing guns at the captors while hostages were present, further exacerbated the hostages' fears (source-2).
The concept of Stockholm syndrome, which describes the psychological bond that can develop between captives and their captors, is relevant here. It suggests that the hostages' refusal to leave could be attributed to a complex mix of fear and emotional bonding with their captors (source-1). However, it is crucial to note that the hostages' initial refusal to leave was primarily driven by fear of police action rather than a psychological bond with their captors.
The reliability of the sources is strong, particularly the accounts from the BBC, which have a reputation for thorough journalism. The historical context provided by Wikipedia articles also adds credibility, as they are based on extensive research and documentation of the events surrounding the Norrmalmstorg robbery (source-1, source-2).
Conclusion
The claim that hostages initially refused to leave their captors for fear of police is True. The evidence from multiple sources indicates that the hostages felt a greater threat from the police than from their captors, leading to their decision to remain with them during the crisis.
