"Don't Trigger Me": 17 Mumbai Children, Taken Hostage, Rescued | Read

At least 17 children were rescued in Mumbai after a man held them hostage in the Powai neighbourhood. The suspect, who identified himself as Rohit Arya in a video message released before the incident, was arrested at the scene.

Police said they mounted a rapid response after the video circulated, and managed to secure the children shortly after they were held hostage. All of those taken were removed from the location.

In the video, the man said he had chosen hostage-taking instead of suicide in order to force conversations with unspecified people. "I am Rohit Arya. Instead of dying by suicide, I have made a plan and am holding some children hostage here," he said, listing what he described as "simple demands, moral demands, ethical demands, and a few questions." He warned that "the slightest wrong move from you will trigger me" and threatened to set the place on fire, adding that he did not seek money and was "not a terrorist".