Man Stabs at Least 8 People in South Korean Mall
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A 59-year-old man stabbed at least eight people Tuesday at a shopping mall in the South Korean city of Incheon, police and fire officials said. One victim was in life-threatening condition and received surgery at a nearby hospital.
Incheon, South Korea experienced a harrowing incident on Tuesday when a 59-year-old man brutally stabbed at least eight individuals at a shopping mall. The victim's condition ranged from life-threatening to less severe, with one woman receiving emergency surgery after arriving in cardiac arrest, according to local authorities.
Witnesses reported that the attacker, who had a history of violent offenses and mental illness, carried knives tied to both hands and stabbed victims across the mall. He moved through the premises on an escalator, attacking people on multiple floors before being subdued by concerned business owners and bystanders. The assailant appeared to be restrained by several people, using chairs and pushing him down the escalator until police arrived.
The suspect, who was required to wear an electronic monitoring anklet, had a prior conviction for attempted murder in 2015. He was reviewed in 2019 but showed no signs of repeating offenses while under supervision. He was arrested last month on suspicion of carrying a weapon after puncturing a protest sign with a kitchen knife and was receiving treatment for alcohol dependence and unspecified mental health issues.
The attack unfolded around 1:40 p.m., with the suspect attending a counseling session earlier in the day. He was released from the counseling session around 12:30 p.m., well before the assault began. The police acknowledged their remorse over the public concern caused by the incident and vowed to review the procedures surrounding the suspect's electronic monitoring.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
