Man kidnaps 3 students, claims he is 'not insane'
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-09 11:06

A man armed with 10 kilograms of explosives and a gun entered a middle school classroom and kidnapped three students on Tuesday morning in Yibin County, Sichuan Province, according to West China City Daily.

Hou Ba, the man, released the students unharmed and was caught by police at 5:45pm.

At 8:13am, Hou, entered a grade two classroom where more than 50 students were studying English.

The middle-aged man went directly to the front of the room. He asked the name of the teacher and then said in a calm voice: "Teacher Xiao, you needn't be busy with your class. Students, I'm not mad or insane, there is nothing wrong with my mind."

Hou then unbuttoned his brown coat to reveal several explosives. "These are all explosives and there are more in my bag. You shouldn't move and needn't be worried. I don't want to hurt the innocent," Hou said.

The man took out a gun and told students to listen. The classroom became very silent.

Hou then noticed Xiao Dingqiong, the English teacher, trying to call police on her mobile phone. He stopped Xiao and said, "Don't bother to do that, I will phone director Liu, head of the local public security unit."

Hou wanted four girls as hostages. He pointed to two girls in the first row and then Zhao Hua, a boy, stood up and said, "I'm willing to replace two girls as your hostage."

Hou tied up all three.

After receiving a phone call from the kidnapper, school administrators and police officials rushed to the classroom. More than 2,000 students were at the school. Administrators and police officers evacuated most students. Classes 9 and 10 were next door to the room with the kidnapper. The headmaster ordered the two to continue to keep the kidnapper calm.

At about 9am, Hou and the three hostages went to a school playground and the remaining 100 students from the two classes were removed safely.

Hou wrote a note claiming his girlfriend in Suijiang, Yunnan Province, was forcing him to transport illegal drugs. He said he did many unlawful things and wanted to change. Hou said he wanted attention.

Hou then agreed with a police request to free the students. At about 4pm, Hou remove some of the explosives strapped to his body. Policemen seized Hou's gun and subdued him at 5:45pm.