Man who held mum hostage and threatened to blow up Penang home nabbed

GEORGE TOWN: A man in his 40's who held his mother hostage and threatened to blow up his apartment unit has been arrested.

The Fire and Rescue Department said rescuers were dispatched to the scene following a report of the incident at 10.57pm on Tuesday (Feb 13).

"We received a report of suicide threat, and the victim had acted aggressively by injuring his 65-year-old mother and threatened to discharge two canisters of liquefied petroleum gas at home.

"We ordered personnel to initiate a pressure stream in preparation for any possible fire.

"The victim eventually released his mother and was later arrested by police," said a statement from the department, adding that the operation ended about three hours later at 2.46am.