Man threatens self-immolation for money to buy drugs
Last updated: 9/6/2010 10:20
Firefighters wait outside a District 11 house in Ho Chi Minh City Sunday, to deal with a drug addict who threatened to burn himself and his parents' house down if he wasn't given money to buy drugs.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City Sunday arrested a man who allegedly threatened to burn himself if his family didn’t give him money to buy drugs.

Initial information shows that 36-year-old Nguyen Vinh Huy came to his parents' house in District 11 at around 1 p.m. Sunday, asking for money.

After his demand was refused, Huy caught hold of his younger sister and threatened to harm her with two knives, witnesses said.

After his family managed to free the sister and run out of the house, Huy poured petrol on his body and the house. He then set a motorbike on fire, but local people put it out.

Locals, however, said they couldn’t control the man because he was holding two knives. Huy then ran into a room and threatened to burn himself and attack anyone who dared to go in, they said.

Huy, who was discharged from a drug rehab center early this year, didn’t give up until a rescue team from HCMC Department of Fire Prevention and Fighting used tear gas and broke into the house to control him about three hours later.

Locals said Huy, who lives with his wife and child in Tan Binh District, had threatened to burn his parents’ house for money to buy drugs many times earlier.

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