Children are being held hostage in barricade situation in Florida: SWAT team descended on the home more than 12 hours ago

A person has barricaded himself and is holding several children hostage in Florida.

The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that the situation has been ongoing since Monday evening.

Authorities have not yet released information on the exact location, but have said it is in Venus, a community in southeastern Highlands County.

Due to the amount of time that passed, Polk County SWAT was called in to relieve the Highlands County unit.

The situation is under control and poses no danger to the rest of the community.

This is a development story.