At Least 14 People Injured as Man Drives Car onto South Korean Sidewalk and Commits Stabbing Rampage

In a shocking incident in South Korea, a man drove his car onto a sidewalk and then proceeded to stab people at a shopping mall, leaving at least 14 individuals injured. This marks the country’s second mass stabbing in a span of a month.

According to Yoon Sung-hyun, an official from the southern Gyeonggi provincial police department, five people were hit by the car while nine others fell victim to the stabbings. The attacks took place in a bustling leisure district near a subway station in the city of Seongnam.

Law enforcement apprehended a suspect in his twenties at the scene and are currently interrogating him. However, the authorities have not disclosed the man’s identity or provided any immediate information regarding a possible motive for the heinous act.

The head of the National Police Agency has classified the incident as “virtually an act of terrorism.”

Ha Dong-geun, a representative from Gyeonggi’s provincial fire department, stated that at least two of the wounded victims are in serious condition and have been admitted to the hospital.

The scene of the stabbings, AK Plaza, was thoroughly examined by forensic units, as depicted in photos released. A white Kia hatchback with a shattered front window and a punctured front tire was observed on a sidewalk near the subway station.

Kyunghyang Shinmun, a newspaper in South Korea, shared a video on their website, which was said to be recorded by a witness. The footage captures an individual wearing sunglasses and a black hoodie, walking up the mall’s escalator while holding an object in his hand.

Hwang Hee-woon, an eyewitness interviewed by YTN television, recounted, “I heard a scream-like sound from the first floor, so customers and staff members gathered near the escalator on the second floor to ascertain what was happening downstairs.”

He further added, “Suddenly, someone alerted us that the perpetrator was ascending to the second floor. In a state of panic, we fled from the area.” Hwang and several mall employees managed to find shelter in a refrigerated storage room.

Last month, another horrifying incident occurred in the capital city of Seoul, where an individual wielding a knife attacked pedestrians on a street, resulting in the death of one individual.

On Thursday, the National Police Agency convened an online meeting with regional police chiefs to discuss strategies for handling random attacks, including stabbings. During the meeting, Commissioner Gen. Yoon Hee-keun made the declaration about the incident being associated with terrorism. The agency’s discussions revolved around increasing nighttime patrols in leisure districts and densely populated areas, as well as enhancing security camera surveillance.