Ukrainian men kidnapped 13 people and asked the president to call everyone to watch a movie. The president did so...
Author: Chen Shuang Meng Xiangjun
1 bus, 13 hostages, 1 kidnapper, 1 president, 1 movie, several weapons and explosives...Combining these elements together, what can you think of?
Many people may think of a "typical" Hollywood blockbuster with hot action scenes and a battle of wits and courage between the protagonist and the robber, and even think that this narrative "routine" is outdated. However, on July 21st local time, a special "hijacking case" that integrated all the above elements took place in Ukraine in reality.
It may not be an exaggeration to say that this incident is more bizarre than the movie. Because the strange request made by the hostage-taking suspect is enough to be selected for the 2020 "Confusion Award"...
On July 21, local time, in Lutsk, Ukraine, a man hijacked a bus and took the passengers on the bus as hostages.
13 suspects on the hijacked bus made strange requests
On the 21st local time, on the river Steri in Ukraine, the capital of the Volen Region, Lutsk, with a total population of only more than 210,000 people, came out surprising news-a man hijacked a bus in the city. There are 13 passengers in the car. The man said that he was carrying explosives and weapons, and said that there was another bus in the city with explosives that he could detonate remotely.
After receiving the report, the Warren State Police immediately sealed off the city center to protect the safety of citizens and launched a "hostage" action plan. Special forces quickly surrounded the scene and deployed multiple snipers on the roof. At the scene, law enforcement officials have been negotiating with the suspect.
During the period, the suspect fired several shots at the police station building from the bus, breaking the windows on the second floor of the building. He also threw an explosive device of unknown type outside the car, but fortunately no casualties were caused.
Poster for the movie "Citizen of the Earth". Image source: Screenshot of the official website of "Earth Citizen"
The suspect made a request to the police to have all senior Ukrainian officials including Minister of the Interior Avakov, former President Poroshenko, the Director of National Security and others issue a statement acknowledging that he and his associates are "legitimate terrorists."
Not only that, the suspect also made a strange request-to have Uzbek President Zelensky issue a statement asking everyone to watch a 2005 film "Citizens of the Earth". If these requirements are not met, he will detonate the bus and "perish" with the hostages.
Data map: President Zelensky of Ukraine.
President suspects arrested after releasing hostages
Ukrainian Presidential Press Spokesperson Yulia Mendel said that after learning of the incident, President Zelensky "held talks" with the suspect and persuaded him to release an elderly person, a child and a pregnant woman first.
In order to rescue the remaining hostages, Zelensky also agreed to the suspect's request and posted a short video on his social networking site homepage to persuade people to watch the movie "Citizens of the Earth."
On July 21, local time, in Lutsk, Ukraine, special forces surrounded the scene of the bus hijacking.
Several hours after the confrontation, the suspect asked the police to approach the vehicle, passing food and water in. Zelensky also said that he has kept the situation under control. According to reports, after seeing Zelensky’s online video, the suspect released all hostages.
The footage broadcast by Ukrainian TV showed that the suspect stepped off the bus he hijacked, and several special police officers rushed up and cut his hands back and pressed him to the ground. After that, the hostages began to get out of the car. After that, an explosion occurred at the scene.
Anton Glashenko, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, later announced on social networking sites that none of the hostages is life-threatening.
On July 21, local time, the Ukrainian Interior Minister posted pictures of the hijacking scene on social media.
Premeditated, accomplices were also arrested
The suspect has been jailed for nearly 10 years
Baranetski, director of the Counter-Terrorism Center of the Ukrainian Security Agency, said at a press conference: "This person was prepared for the crime. There are accomplices, and several people have been detained."
According to reports, one of the accomplices was arrested in Kharkov and the suspect had contact with him. Ukrainian Minister of the Interior Avakov also revealed: “We have seized several guns, ammunition, explosives, etc.”
According to Uzbek police sources, the man named Maxim Krivosei, 45 years old, had been in prison twice for fraud, theft and illegal possession of weapons, serving a total of 10 years in prison.
Data map: President Zelensky of Ukraine.
After the suspects were arrested and the hostages were rescued, Ukrainian President Zelensky deleted the video posted on social media and congratulated the law enforcement officers on the successful rescue of the hostages. He said that law enforcement agencies formulated a response plan, and no casualties occurred during the rescue.
Zelensky pointed out: "In any country, terrorism has no room for survival."
According to other data, the movie "Citizens of the Earth" is an American documentary released in 2005, about the content of animal rights.