A knife-wielding man, who abducted two 3-year-old kids at a pre-school in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, has been indicted for “illegally detaining people” and “threatening to kill people”, police in Tan Binh district announced on Sunday.

>> Man demands gun, cash, van for kid hostages>> Man takes 2 kids hostage during school break

Past reports said at about 8:30am on Oct. 11, 28-year-old Cao Quoc Huy, who wore body armor made of two pieces of metal sheet and was armed with two knives, entered a preschool in Tan Binh district.

Huy ran into the room of headmistress Tran Thi Kim Thuy and pulled hard at her hair. After a scuffle, Thuy managed to run outside while crying out loud for help, police said.

The man reacted by taking out two knives, running straight to a schoolroom and dragging out two kids Nguyen Duc Tai and Bui Quang Khoi, both of them are 3 year olds.

Hundreds of police officers were deployed to the scene but Huy refused to surrender and demanded VND3.5 million in cash (US$175), a 26-seat automobile and one loaded gun, adding if his requests were denied, he would kill one of the two boys.

Two hours later, many police officers stormed into the room and safely rescued the two kids.

It is suspected that Huy has history of mental illness. According to VnExpress newswire, Huy was found guilty of murder 10 years ago but was not jailed since he was confirmed to have mental illness.

Regarding the recent kidnapping, police said the Criminal Science Institute under the Ministry of Public Security will conduct examinations to determine if he has a mental illness or not.