SABAH police suspect the man who took a 2-year girl hostage at the Telipok Ria flats today was not mentally stable or may have consumed illegal substances prior to the incident. 

Sabah Police Commisioner Omar Mammah said the man, in his 30s, was not a resident at the low-cost flats, and had gone to the fourth floor of an apartment block where a stall had been set up by one of the tenants. 

“He took a knife out, grabbed the girl and kicked open a door to a unit near the stall. 

The unit owner was at home performing prayers in another room at the time. 

“Alarmed by the noise, the unit owner immediately ran out of the apartment,” Omar said after the incident at the flats. 

Omar said upon arrival, police attempted to reason with the man inside the flat. The man refused, instead holding the knife to the girl’s neck, injuring her. 

Police seized an opportunity to shoot the man when he had his back turned in an attempt to throw the girl out of a window. 

About six gunshots were heard. 

“The suspect died on the spot and the police immediately rescued the girl. The child is doing okay. She may injuries to the neck. She has been taken to hospital,” Omar said. 

Omar said it is believed the man may have suffered from mental problems. Police are also not ruling out the possibility that he may have taken drugs, he added. 

“During the incident, the man also hurled threats at the police officers and threatened to throw the girl from the fourth floor,” he said. 

No identification documents were found on the man, Omar said. – January 13, 2019.