A disturbing incident took place in South Korea on Thursday, as a man deliberately drove a car onto a crowded sidewalk and then proceeded to stab multiple people at a nearby shopping mall. This shocking act of violence resulted in at least 14 individuals being wounded, marking the second mass stabbing incident in the country in just one month.
According to Yoon Sung-hyun, an official from the southern Gyeonggi provincial police department, five people were initially injured by the car, while the remaining nine were stabbed during the attacks. The incident occurred in a bustling leisure district near a subway station in the city of Seongnam.
Law enforcement promptly apprehended a suspect in his 20s at the scene and began questioning him. However, no details about his identity or potential motives have been released as of now.
The head of the National Police Agency has characterized this attack as “virtually an act of terrorism.” Ha Dong-geun, an official at Gyeonggi’s provincial fire department, confirmed that at least two of the wounded victims are in serious condition and currently receiving hospital treatment.
Photographs of the crime scene depict forensic teams examining the premises of the AK Plaza, where the stabbings occurred. Additionally, a white Kia hatchback with a shattered front windshield and a punctured front tire can be seen on the sidewalk close to the subway station.
Kyunghyang Shinmun, a South Korean newspaper, published a video sent by a witness. The footage portrays a man wearing sunglasses and a black hoodie ascending the mall’s escalator while holding an object in his hand.
Eyewitness, Hwang Hee-woon, recounted his experience during the incident, stating that he heard what sounded like a scream coming from the first floor. Consequently, he and others gathered on the second-floor railing near the escalator to observe the commotion. Suddenly, it was announced that the perpetrator was heading towards the second floor, causing a panic and prompting Hwang to seek refuge in a refrigerated storage room with some mall employees.
It is worth noting that this act of violence follows a similar incident that transpired last month in Seoul, where a knife-wielding man stabbed multiple pedestrians on a street, resulting in one fatality.
In response to the increasing prevalence of such attacks, the National Police Agency held an online meeting with regional police chiefs to discuss strategies for dealing with random acts of violence. One of the measures proposed includes intensifying nighttime patrols in leisure districts and other densely populated areas, as well as strengthening security camera surveillance.
As more information continues to emerge about this shocking incident, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for heightened security measures and vigilance in public spaces.
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