Video footage has shown the moment a Thai police officer talked a man holding a blade out of an attack on a police station in Bangkok by offering him a cuddle.
The video, which was captured by a CCTV camera on Saturday night (local time), shows officer Anirut Malee gesturing to the man to drop his weapon and embrace him.
The 45-year-old is taken aback by the request at first, and holds out the knife threateningly at the officer - but after a while is worn down, and relinquishes control of the weapon.
The pair then share a tender hug, with officer Anirut appearing to pat him down to check if the knife was the only weapon he was wielding. The assailant then gets sat down, and they thank one another.
Speaking to Sanook News, officer Anirut said the man had been "stressing out" because he had been working as a security guard for three days, a period in which he'd had his guitar stolen and had not been paid.
Officer Anirut said he offered the man a guitar of his own and suggested they go out for a meal together.
The man was taken to hospital to have mental health checks, but was not charged.
Newshub.
