Man threatens to infect people with AIDS over tin of coffee

A petty thief, who was detained for stealing a coffee tin at one of Moscow's supermarkets, pulled out a syringe filled with an unknown substance and was threatening to infect everyone with AIDS if he was not released.

Terrified employees of the supermarket called the police. The man, who threatened to infect others with the deadly disease was taken to the police station, where he explained that he did not have AIDS. Moreover, the man said that he did not remember that he was threatening anyone. "I was on drugs and do not remember much. I'm not HIV-positive. I said that to frighten people," he said.

The liquid in the syringe was sent for expertise. The detainee said that there was a harmless drug in the syringe. The police opened a criminal case under article "Robbery." The detainee is accustomed to places of detention: the man has repeatedly been tried on various charges.