KEMEROVO, March 13 (RIA Novosti) - An armed man took five people hostage on Friday afternoon at a bank in the city of Leninsk-Kuznetsky in southwest Siberia, a spokesman for the local administration said.

The man, who entered the building at approximately 7:00 p.m. local time (noon GMT), is armed with a gun and has threatened to detonate an explosive device, believed to be a grenade.

"According to preliminary information, five bank employees are currently being held in the building," the source said. "There are three men and two women."

The hostage taker's demands are currently being clarified. According to previous reports, he demanded a plane, money, and the release of his friend from jail, as well as the opportunity to leave the region with him.

Aman Tuleyev, the governor of the region, has arrived at the scene. The building has been cordoned off by special police units.