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Hostages held at knifepoint saved

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-24 10:51

Police subdued a kidnapper and rescued three women who had been held hostage for more than three hours yesterday morning in a pawn shop in Fuzhou, Fujian province.

Police subdue the kidnapper in Fuzhou, Fujian province, yesterday. [Yu Song]

None of the hostages, all employees of Chengxin Pawn Shop, were injured in the incident, said local police.

Shortly after their rescue, the employees were taken by ambulance to hospital for examination.

The suspected kidnapper, in his early 20s, was identified as a security guard surnamed Yu who had worked at the shop for almost three years, local newspaper Southeast Express reported.

The man, born in Jianyang, guarded the shop in the day and slept in it at night.

His motive is not yet clear, a senior officer with Fuzhou police bureau told Xinhua.

The incident began about 8:20 am yesterday when the man held the three women at knifepoint and kept them in the shop's attic. Police cordoned off the site on arrival and tried to talk to the man.

About 11 am, screams from the hostages were heard as firemen tried to break into the room, according to Southeast Express. Five minutes later police broke into the room and subdued the kidnapper.

The case is still under investigation.