Man shot dead after taking child hostage at Tuaran apartment building

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The man seen holding the child hostage.

KOTA KINABALU: A man who took a child hostage at knifepoint at Telipok Ria Apartment in Tuaran, threatening to harm her, has been shot dead by the police.

State Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah said that the suspect’s identity has yet to be ascertained as no documents were found on him. His motives for carrying out the abduction and holding the child hostage are still unclear.

The child, who suffered minor injuries, was rushed to the hospital, Omar told reporters at the scene.

The drama unfolded at about 1pm when the man, who was armed with a knife, forcefully took the girl, who was playing along the corridor of the apartment block, to the fourth floor of the apartment building.

Upon seeing the police and firemen who were trying to rescue the child, the suspect became agitated and threatened to throw the girl from the building.

The drama ended at about 5.30pm after two hours of negotiations, as the suspect became increasingly aggressive and began pressing the knife to the child’s neck, causing it to bleed.

A police sniper was then forced to act, killing the suspect on the spot.