use threads;

    sub thr_func
    {
        # Thread 'cancellation' signal handler
        $SIG{'KILL'} = sub { threads->exit(); };

        ...
    }

    # Create a thread
    my $thr = threads->create('thr_func');

    ...

    # Signal the thread to terminate, and then detach
    # it so that it will get cleaned up automatically
    $thr->kill('KILL')->detach();