The man who took three children hostage in Mereni in the morning of November 5 entered the house of his female relative at about 6am. He stabbed the woman with a knife for several times and took the three minors aged one, four and seven years hostage. The woman managed to run away and to call the police.

According to the General Police Inspectorate, during the night the man insistently called his wife, who found shelter in the house of their relative together with the children, and threatened that he would kill her if she gives testimony in a case in which he is investigated. Scared, the 20-year-old woman left home, leaving the three children in the care of the female relative.

After the police were called out, a number of police teams, officers of the Special Police Brigade “Fulger”, a psychologist and prosecutors travelled to the scene. During the talks, the man kept the knife at the neck of the four-year-old boy, threatening to kill him.

The police decided to intervene and managed to immobilize the aggressor. A police officer was hurt and needed medical care. The man is the biological father of the one-year-old child, the other two children having another father.

Criminal proceedings were instituted over hostage raking. The man was arrested for 72 hours. He faces 6 to 12 years in jail and/or a fine of 42,500 lei to 67,500 lei.