Irving hostage situation: Five people held hostage in Texas house free but 'gunman' remains in standoff

SWAT is responding to a man who held at least five people hostage inside a Texas house

An Irving Police Department vehicle is parked outside of an apparent hostage situation in Irving, Texas 17 September 2018 (Twitter)

Five people have been freed after reportedly being held hostage inside a Texas home, police have said.

The Irving Police Department confirmed the hostages were safely rescued after a man – believed to be in his 60s and armed – had barricaded himself inside of the Las Carolinas home after firing shots at the residency and holding multiple people against their will.

A local SWAT Team responded to the hostage situation after police were called to the scene, following reports of gunfire and fleeing residents.

Shortly after the Monday morning standoff occurred, Irving Public Information Officer James McLellan told reporters: “Just in the last few minutes we’ve actually located one person that came out of a backyard shed.”

“We believe that is one of the people that we believed were still inside the house,” the officer continued.

A bomb squad reportedly arrived at the scene hours after law enforcement closed off the surrounding area, though the suspect was not believed to have used any explosives, as well as negotiators, though contact had not immediately been made with anyone within the house.

Police did not immediately respond to enquiries.

It appeared as if hostage victims were fleeing from the home one by one, as news choppers captured images and video from above. Police repeatedly attempted making contact with the suspect throughout the early afternoon with no luck.

The police department posted an update on Twitter, saying officials had “accounted for all known hostages and there are no injuries”.

“The male suspect is currently still inside,” the tweet continued.