The was a hostage crisis Catastrophe and police siege Besieging in a mountain lodge near Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture , Japan that lasted from February 19 to February 28 , 1972 .

the incident Catastrophe began Process_start when five armed members of the united red army ( ura ) , following a bloody purge Killing that left 14 members of the group plus one bystander dead Death , broke Bodily_harm into a holiday lodge below mount asama , taking Conquering the wife of the unk as a hostage .

The lodge was a natural fortress , solidly constructed Building of thick concrete on a steep hillside with only one entrance , which , along with their guns , enabled Preventing_or_letting the hostage-takers to keep police at a distance .

On February 28 , the police stormed Attack the lodge .