A young man (Back) holds a knife against a young woman in downtown Taiyuan city, capital of north China's Shanxi Province September 13, while a middle-aged man was trying to persuade him to give up. The hostage, slightly injured in one hand, was rescued, and the kidnapper subdued by local police.

A young man who took a young woman hostage in downtown Taiyuan city was subdued by local police.

Two policemen try to grab the knife from the kidnapper.

The kidnapper was subdued, and the woman was slightly injured in one hand.

(China Daily September 15, 2006)