Police Free Hostage in Tense Situation on Beijing’s Wangfujing Pedestrian Street

Charles Liu , July 31, 2014 1:38pm

beijing wangfujing hostage knife police shopping gap pedestrian street anti-terrorismA middle-aged man armed with a knife took a hostage on the Wangfujing pedestrian street in Beijing last night, reports China News. The incident occurred at 9:22pm near the newly developed Dong’an Mall, right near the Wangfujing police sub-station. Eyewitnesses say young woman was taken hostage in an alcove just outside a GAP store.

Armed police cordoned off the area and police were seen aiming rifles at the suspect.beijing wangfujing hostage knife police shopping gap pedestrian street anti-terrorism

While police were negotiating with the suspect, officers moved in to subdue him with an elbow to the throat. The hostage was finally freed at 9:57 pm, not 35 minutes after the incident first began. She was unharmed, and apparently did not know the man who took her hostage.

The suspect is surnamed Tan, is 38 years-old, and from Liuzhou in Guangxi Province. No motive for the hostage taken has been given.

Wangfujing is one of 14 “anti-terrorism locations” in Beijing that are mandated to have a police response to emergencies within one minute.

beijing wangfujing hostage knife police shopping gap pedestrian street anti-terrorismbeijing wangfujing hostage knife police shopping gap pedestrian street anti-terrorism

Crowds of onlookers thronged the area craning for a better view:

beijing wangfujing hostage knife police shopping gap pedestrian street anti-terrorismbeijing wangfujing hostage knife police shopping gap pedestrian street anti-terrorismbeijing wangfujing hostage knife police shopping gap pedestrian street anti-terrorismbeijing wangfujing hostage knife police shopping gap pedestrian street anti-terrorism

This is a photo of Tan during the subsequent police interrogation:

beijing wangfujing hostage knife police shopping gap pedestrian street anti-terrorism

Photos: Shenzhen Evening Report, Weibo (2)

Charles Liu

The Nanfang's Senior Editor