Nguyễn Tấn Tài, 24, from District 12. – VNA/VNS Photo

HCM City – Two men were arrested on Monday by HCM City police in a stabbing incident on Sunday evening which killed two men who were part of a team of volunteer “knights” who protect local residents. Three other men were injured.  

Nguyễn Tấn Tài, 24, from District 12, and Nguyễn Hoàng Châu Phú, 24, from Hóc Môn district were arrested by HCM City police on Monday, the city Police Department announced at a press conference yesterday.

Police said the suspects were taken to the police station and admitted to attacking the men with their knives.

A camera that recorded the incident showed Tài stabbing five of the so-called “street knights” within 13 seconds at the District 3 location.

On Sunday night, Phú and Tài were attempting to steal a Honda SH scooter on Cách Mạng Tháng 8 Street in District 3 when they were detected by a team of seven “street knights”.

After being besieged by the team, the suspects took out knives and aggressively fought back.

Two members of the volunteer team, Nguyễn Hoàng Nam, a 29-year-old truck driver, and Nguyễn Văn Thôi, a 42-year-old motorbike taxi driver, died immediately after being stabbed.

Trần Văn Hoàng, 47, who founded the Tân Bình District Knights, the volunteer robber-hunter group, had captured more than 500 thieves over a 20-year period; Nguyễn Đức Huy, 22, and Đinh Phú Qúy, 22, are still in intensive care at a hospital in HCM City.

The secretary of the city’s Party Committee, Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, and a delegation of officials visited the injured volunteers at the hospital on Monday.

After the incident, the Government Office sent an official letter from Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình instructing the police to arrest the three men involved in the incident and give strict punishment.

Major General Phan Anh Minh, deputy director of the HCM City Police Department, said the HCM City People’s Committee would pay all expenditures for funerals and hospital fees for the deceased “street knights” and would take care of their relatives, especially the elderly and children under 18 years old.

“To honour their sacrifice, HCM City Police are completing procedures to give the title of martyr to two of the deceased street knights,” he added. — VNS