On March 27, Tran Trung Kien, Chairman of the Phuong Mao Ward People's Committee (Que Vo Town, Bac Ninh Province), informed VietNamNet reporters that around 4 a.m., a young man suspected of being under the influence of drugs entered a local house and took a young girl hostage with a knife.

The victim, born in 2016, is the daughter of a family running a roadside bakery on Highway 18. The family had opened the door early in the morning when the suspect entered and sat inside. After moving to the second floor and finding the child asleep, the suspect took her to the roof of an adjacent one-story building.

The family immediately reported the incident to local authorities, and by 8 a.m., the suspect had been subdued.

"The Bac Ninh Provincial Police and local authorities successfully restrained the suspect and rescued the girl. The victim was in a state of shock and was taken to the hospital for a health check-up," said Chairman Kien.

Dramatic rescue of 9-year-old girl held hostage with a knife

Colonel Pham Van Ngu, Head of the Criminal Police Division of Bac Ninh Provincial Police, revealed that the suspect, later identified as Phan Van Tuan (born May 6, 1983, in Hai Phong), had three prior criminal convictions. Tuan was confirmed to have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.

According to Colonel Ngu, Tuan entered the house at around 4 a.m. and used two knives to take the girl, identified as Tran Thi T., hostage on the second floor. Tuan demanded money and a motorbike to escape. The Criminal Police Division reported the situation to the provincial police chief, who personally arrived at the scene to oversee the rescue.

After four hours of negotiation and distraction, officers offered the suspect money and a motorbike to encourage him to move from the second floor. As he descended with the girl - still holding a knife to her neck - officers maintained communication to divert his attention. When Tuan briefly moved the knife away from the girl’s neck while approaching the vehicle, officers seized the opportunity to subdue him and free the hostage.

Suspect’s criminal history and related incidents

Preliminary investigations revealed that Tuan had a criminal record, including two convictions for unlawful detention and one for illegal drug possession.

The previous night, at around 11 p.m. on March 26, Tuan had caused a disturbance at Co Thanh Ward Health Station in Chi Linh City, Hai Duong Province, while wielding two knives. He threatened medical staff and then forced a passerby to give him a ride to Bac Ninh. When they reached Viet Hung Ward, Que Vo District, the victim spotted a police patrol and drove toward them, yelling for help. Tuan abandoned the motorbike and fled to a nearby eatery, where he stole another motorbike from a customer and continued his escape.

Eventually, Tuan reached the house of Tran Thanh Hai in Phuong Mao Ward, where he took the young girl hostage, leading to the dramatic morning standoff.

The case is currently under investigation.

Bao Khanh