A knifeman grabbed a stranger and was shot dead by police just seconds before he could stab her.
The horror began when he entered the kitchen area of a supermarket in a shopping centre and brazenly took a 12-inch knife right in front of a worker.
Staff called the police immediately.
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Minutes later, officers received another report that he was wandering around outside the mall, brandishing the weapon.
At one point, the suspect left the shopping centre, only to rush back menacingly from the street, sending shoppers fleeing in panic.
Two women slipped and fell mere inches from him in the stampede.
CCTV footage captures the terrifying moment he grabbed the strap of one woman’s handbag, pinned her to the ground with one hand, and raised the knife above her head.
As he brought it down, shield-wielding officers swooped in and fired, hitting him just in time.
He collapsed unconscious, while his terrified hostage managed to crawl to safety. She was later taken to hospital for checks.
The drama unfolded at Tuen Mun Town Plaza in Hong Kong yesterday (15 Jan) evening, as reported by Need To Know.
The suspect was struck twice – in the chest and right shoulder – and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital after first aid was given at the scene.
Police confirmed they issued two verbal warnings, both ignored, before opening fire.
Officers cordoned off the bloodstained area and recovered the knife. They also found suspected crystal meth and a retractable baton in the suspect’s bag.
Authorities identified him as a 34-year-old legal resident of Hong Kong and are now investigating claims from his family that he had a history of mental illness.
Police said he had ties to “triad” organised crime and a criminal record including drug-related offences.
He may have been under the influence of drugs during the rampage.
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