Six British children have been found living in an abandoned warehouse in Austria, according to various European media reports.
The youngsters, all under the age of five, were found at the hideout in the small town of Obritz with a 54-year-old Austrian man and his wife.
Police launched a search operation for the man after he reportedly pepper-sprayed social services staff in the village.
The family had been living in the basement for several months, police said.
The man, who was reported to be Austrian but working in Britain, barricaded himself in the cellar. After the police broke in and arrested the man, they found firearms in the basement.
He was released on Thursday night after prosecutors said he posed no risk to the children, The Telegraph reported. The police are checking if the weapons are legally owned.
The basements had been renovated to make them more comfortable, with surveillance cameras installed. However, local authorities said the sanitation was inadequate for children.
It is not clear how long the man, his 40-year-old wife and children lived there, but there were doors, windows, water and electricity. There have been complaints about the family in recent weeks.
The children were cared for after they were discovered.
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