MOSCOW (AP) — Police in Moscow say a man who took hostages during an attempt to rob a bank has been killed.

Police spokeswoman Sofia Khotina said on state TV news channel Rossiya-24 that the man was "liquidated" during an operation by special forces on Wednesday evening, but didn't give details.

None of the six hostages were reported injured. Five of them were freed before the police operation. The other was a cashier who had taken shelter in a secure room of the bank.

News reports said the man, wearing a mask, entered the Credit Bank of Moscow branch brandishing what appeared to be a pistol.

After most of the hostages left, the man reportedly demanded a large sum of money and threatened to set off a bomb. After he was killed, police were examining whether a device that he held was an explosive.