News reports said that at least a dozen children and a teacher were inside the centre in the town of Reggio Calabria.

The man has asked to speak to journalists and has made references to money and judicial sentences, Ansa and Apcom news agencies report.

A police official told the Associated Press that they were trying to persuade the man to leave the building, Kazinform quotes BBC News.

Ansa reported that some parents of the children had gathered at the school along with a crowd of onlookers and some of the man's relatives.

The news agency said the mayor of Reggio Calabria, Giuseppe Scopelliti, was on his way to the scene to speak to the man.

Source: Kazinform

If you are from Italy or familiar with the matter please comment below and let's all together update this story as what happens to the children and how the story ends. Hope all goes well and children are released safely.