Chinese hostage-taker shot dead

Beijing, July 20 (IANS) A man in the Chinese capital was shot dead by police after he took a woman security officer hostage at knife-point at a metro station. The hostage was saved.

The incident took place at the Hujialou station Thursday night, the China Daily reported Friday.

Police said the reasons behind the attack remain unknown.

The unnamed man grabbed the woman security officer standing near a ticketing machine at the station around 9 p.m. Passengers tried to persuade the man to release the woman, but he refused and threatened to kill her.

Police asked a negotiator to persuade the suspect to give himself up. After 70 minutes of negotiations, the suspect injured the woman with his knife, forcing police to shoot him.