Vietnam 'thugs' advertised on web

Version 0 of 1.

A group of youngsters who allegedly used a website to offer services including violence and intimidation has been arrested in Vietnam, reports say.

Police in the city of Buon Ma Thuot suspect the gang of several attacks, the Lao Dong newspaper reported.

The gang apparently offered to "threaten with violence, beat up or even maim people for a negotiable price", the paper claimed.

The police closed the website down and reportedly arrested four people.

The paper said the ringleader and three gang members were caught with knives and machetes.

Police discovered and promptly shut the gang's website, where "potential customers" were invited to place their orders online.

Lao Dong's reporter, Dang Ba Tien, told the BBC from Buon Ma Thuot that there were 30 youngsters in the gang.

He said: "The internet is becoming more and more popular in Vietnam, but this is the first time it's being used by criminals like a marketing tool.

"Luckily their website was closed down just days after it was launched."

He added that he believed the gang had been active for only a few months.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the internet into Vietnam.

Since then, web usage has grown at an average annual rate of 30% and almost 16 million Vietnamese are currently connected.