Five detained over Beijing hotel attack

(Xinhua) Updated: 2016-04-09 21:08

Screen capture of the video. [Photo/IC]

BEIJING - Five suspects have been detained over a hotel attack incident in Beijing, local police announced on Saturday.

On last Sunday, a woman was throttled and pulled away by a man in a black leather coat in the hallway of a Yitel hotel in Beijing's eastern Chaoyang District. The incident was recorded by a surveillance camera and the footage began circulating online after a Weibo user nicknamed "Wanwan" posted it on her account on Tuesday.

The man in the footage, surnamed Li, 24, was caught on Thursday after a joint operation between local and Beijing police force in Xuchang city in Henan province, about 760 km from Beijing.

He confessed that he was handing out cards with prostitute information in the hotel when he saw the woman and thought she was of the same occupation and a competitor.

Li said he then contacted his gang and started to drag the woman to expel her away.

All five suspects involved in this case have been detained, according to police. Further investigation is under way.

The hotel where the woman was attacked. [Photo/VCG]

Women ponder safety after hotel incident

The arrest of a man in connection with the alleged assault of a woman at a four-star Beijing hotel has led many people to discuss the case, and the safety of women.

The news came on Friday when Beijing police posted a micro blog to say they had arrested a 24-year-old man surnamed Li on suspicion of involvement. They made the arrest at around 9 pm on Thursday in Xuchang city, Henan province.

"We established a special team to investigate the case after becoming aware of online video clips (of the incident) in which a man appeared to attack and drag a woman," the posting said. Police are continuing their investigation, it added.

The alleged assault, which reportedly happened on Sunday, has garnered a great deal of attention in China, where many netizens have criticized the hotel's security arrangements. [Full story]