Hanoi police on September 16 arrested a young man accused of kidnapping three people, including an adult and two children, in a flat at Thanh Xuan Bac living quarter.

Witnesses said Hong, the owner of the flat, came back from market and found a stranger in her flat using a knife to threaten the three victims.

The burglar pulled Hong inside, but she resisted strongly and managed to escape the flat after being slashed on her hands. Hong called out for help, and was then sent to a nearby hospital for treatment of light injuries.

The kidnapper stayed inside the flat until police and rescue forces were mobilised to keep the situation under control.

The man was escorted to a police station to clarify his motive.