Clip of police rescuing the victim and restraining Phan Van Tuan (Source: Bac Ninh Provincial Police)

Stranger asked for a stay at dawn

As VietNamNet reported, at 8:30 a.m. on March 27, Bac Ninh Provincial Police successfully rescued a 9-year-old child who was taken hostage by Phan Van Tuan and taken to the roof.

According to the incident, at around 4:00 a.m. the same day, the Criminal Police Department, Bac Ninh Provincial Police received a report from the Phuong Mao Ward Police, Que Vo Town, that a young man rode a motorbike into the house of Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, in Mao Doc village, and used two meat knives to control Tran Thi T., 9 years old.

Mr. Tran Duc Doan, the victim's grandfather, said that at around 2:00 a.m., when everyone was making cakes to prepare for the new day, Tuan came into the house to ask for a break.

At 4am that same day, Tuan suddenly sneaked into the house, locked the door and revealed 2 meat cleavers. At this time, everyone in the family was shocked, Mr. Doan and his son used sticks to chase them away but failed.

Tuan entered the house, turned on the lights in the rooms on the first floor but there was no one there, so he went up to the second floor, where T. was sleeping alone. He restrained the girl and stood on the stairs.

"At that time, my family told Tuan to just take the money (from the bakery) and let my child go. But Tuan refused and kept holding a knife to my child's neck. The whole family was so scared that they took turns calling the police," said Mr. Doan.

'Brain-wrenching' moment to rescue little girl

Immediately after receiving the news, the Criminal Police Department reported to the Board of Directors of Bac Ninh Provincial Police to mobilize forces to approach and rescue the hostages.

Colonel Bui Duy Hung, Director of Bac Ninh Provincial Police, directly arrived at the scene and directed officers and soldiers of the Criminal Police Department, the Mobile Police Department, the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department, and local police to rescue the child and arrest the suspect.

When the police arrived, Tuan repeatedly held T. in his arms and held a knife to his neck. Realizing that the suspect was very aggressive, mentally unstable, and could endanger the victim, Colonel Bui Duy Hung directed the forces to ensure the child's safety by all means and arrest the suspect.

When he saw a crowd gathering, Tuan agitatedly dragged T. from one place to another, from the second floor of the victim's house to the roof of the house next door, then barricaded himself and made demands. During the entire process, the knife was still pressed against the victim's neck.

During the process of being restrained, T. was frightened and cried and begged, but Tuan refused to let her go. At that time, the authorities tried every way to convince Tuan to release the girl and agreed to all his demands. The authorities also calculated plans and looked for opportunities to rescue the victim.

Having met the requirements for money and means to escape, the subject Tuan gradually calmed down and brought T. down to the ground to receive the motorbike.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Ngu, Head of the Criminal Police Department, Bac Ninh Provincial Police, said that in the short moment of a few seconds when Tuan received the motorbike and removed the knife from the girl's neck, immediately, Bac Ninh police officers restrained the subject so that his teammates could snatch the girl from his hands, then hugged her and ran away.

The pre-arranged task forces rushed in and arrested Tuan, not giving him a chance to fight back with a knife. It is known that when Tuan led T. from the second floor to the front porch, although he was very scared, T. remained calm, did not cry, and obediently listened to the subject. This also prevented the subject from acting rashly, creating conditions for the police force to successfully rescue him.

On March 27, Bac Ninh Provincial Police together with Que Vo Town authorities encouraged, presented gifts, and commended T. for his bravery and calm cooperation with the police force.

After being arrested and taking initial statements, Bac Ninh Provincial Police determined that Phan Van Tuan (42 years old, from Hai Phong) had 3 previous convictions. Specifically, Tuan had 2 convictions for "Illegal detention" and one conviction for "Illegal possession of narcotics".

Before committing the crime in Que Vo town, Tuan went to the Medical Station of Co Thanh ward, Chi Linh city, Hai Duong to cause trouble. When he went out, Tuan met Tran Manh Cuong (22 years old, residing in Co Thanh ward, Chi Linh city) on his way to work.

Tuan knocked down the bike, then put a knife to his neck and forced Cuong to take him away. He said he was being chased and asked Cuong to take him back to Bac Ninh.

When arriving at Viet Hung ward, Que Vo town, he discovered a patrol car of the ward police, so Mr. Cuong drove towards the working group and shouted.

Seeing that, the subject ran into the late-night restaurant of Ms. Nguyen Thi Canh (48 years old, residing in Viet Hung ward). Entering the restaurant, the subject Tuan continued to threaten with a knife and took the motorbike of the customer who was having a late-night meal there. After taking the motorbike, Tuan ran away, the Viet Hung ward police chased but the subject escaped and caused the incident of restraining a 9-year-old girl in Phuong Mao ward.

The case of a girl being threatened in Bac Ninh: Grandfather was shocked when he faced a violent drug addict

When he discovered his grandson was being controlled, Mr. Doan and his son sneaked up to the second floor, intending to save the child.

Bad background of knife-wielding man threatening little girl on roof in Bac Ninh

Before using a knife to control a girl in Phuong Mao ward (Que Vo district, Bac Ninh province), Phan Van Tuan had 3 previous convictions.

Arrest of subject who used knife to threaten and drag girl to roof in Bac Ninh

Authorities in Bac Ninh province have arrested a suspected "drug addict" who used a knife to control and threaten a little girl early in the morning.