CHINA> Regional
Kidnapper shot dead in east China
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-17 09:36

WENZHOU: Four people were rescued after a hostage taker was shot dead by the police Tuesday in East China's Zhejiang province, a local police spokesman said.

A gun man with explosives broke into a villa in Wenzhou city and kidnapped a couple, their 15-year-old son and a nanny, asking for a ransom of 3 million yuan ($439,000) at 6:56 am Monday, said Ye Hanbing, the city's police head.

After 24 hours of persuasion failed, the hostage taker was shot dead at 7 am Tuesday, Ye added.

Ye said the police is investigating the case and gave no further details.