Chinese Justice

Say what you will about the ChiComs, the police there don't put up with much crap from criminals.

Tourist kidnapper killed in China

Reports from China say a man has been shot dead after taking 10 Australian tourists hostage.

The incident began when the man hijacked a bus carrying the tourists and their translator in the north-west city of Xian.

He later released them but was killed by police when negotiations for his surrender failed.

So what happened?

The ordeal for the tourists began just before 10am (0200 GMT), when the hijacker, armed with explosives, boarded the tourist bus near the historic square in Xian.

Then the cavalry apparently arrived.

Police agreed to the hijacker's demand for another vehicle, and according to state news agency Xinhua, they tried to negotiate with the man.

But "after repeated unsuccessful entreaties by the police, they took the resolute step of opening fire", Xinhua said.

Good.

No fooling around, no trying to understand the hijacker's personal issues, no worrying if he had a hard childhood.

Negotiate long enough to get the hostages out and then whack him. Sends a loud and clear message to other would-be terrorists--you pull something and you are dead.

Here's a tip of my cap to the Chinese police for knowing how to deal with crud like this.

Sort of the Chinese version of "Do You Feel Lucky, Punk?"