Two drug addicts detained in Zhejiang

Two suspects who have alleged drug addictions were detained for disrupting social order in two cities in East China's Zhejiang province on Thursday.

One suspect surnamed Ma took a fruit shop employee in Hangzhou hostage for 100,000 yuan ($16,000) on Thursday morning. The fruit shop is 100 meters away from the Hangzhou Police Department administrative building, so it took only 10 minutes for police to apprehend Ma.

Du Yuquan, a spokesman of the Hangzhou Police Department, said Ma, 30, was a drug addict who had just been released from a rehab center in Sichuan province on June 9.

"The suspect's reason for asking for the money is still being investigated," said Du.

The shop assistant was sent to the hospital for shock. No external injuries were found.

On the same day, another suspect surnamed Hu, 57, blew up a package in downtown Wenzhou. Police said in an official statement that Hu had used a large amount of crystal methamphetamine and was not in a stable mental state. Hu was sent to the hospital to have his stomach pumped. Police are investigating his motive.

The explosive package was made from lighters and firecrackers. No one was injured.

Cai Shouhai, 60, a grocery store owner, was nearby when the first package exploded. Just before Hu detonated the second package, Cai came out of his store and knocked it out of Hu's hands.

"I was in the store when the first package exploded. It was a big sound. Then I saw he was holding another package. He tried to light it with a lighter, but failed several times. So I went behind him and knocked it down," said Cai.

Cai said many people praised his action, but he said he thought it was what a responsible citizen should do.

"I learned kung fu for several years, so I had the confidence to knock that thing down," he said.