5 people killed in a bank shooting in Florida

Chris O'Meara | AP

US police said five people were killed inside a bank in Florida and taken to detention.

A man contacted the emergency police at around 1230 hours (1730 GMT) and was reported to have fired at the bank, police said in the central state of Sibranj on Thursday (Wednesday local time).

"Preliminary negotiations with the gunman to persuade him to leave the bank did not work," said Sebrange Police Chief Carl Hoglund at a press conference.

He added that the gunman surrendered after a team of police snipers stormed the bank and continued to negotiate.

It was not immediately clear whether the dead were employees of the bank or whether they were agents.

Sebring police officials said the suspect called authorities around 12:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday and said he had opened fire inside the bank, according to NBC affiliate WFLA.