A shocking incident unfolded in South Korea as a man went on a rampage with a car, followed by a stabbing spree at a shopping mall. Fourteen innocent shoppers were wounded, marking the country’s second mass stabbing in just a month. The disturbing incident took place in Seongnam, a city located near Seoul.
The assailant first used his car to target pedestrians, injuring at least five people. He then proceeded to stab nine others in the crowded leisure district near a subway station. The details surrounding the motive behind the attack remain unknown, and authorities have not provided any immediate information about the condition of the victims.
The suspect, described as a man in his 20s, was swiftly apprehended at the scene and is currently being interrogated. Authorities are working diligently to uncover the reasons behind this merciless act of violence.
Disturbing images from the scene depict forensic units examining the halls of the AK Plaza, the site of the stabbings. On the sidewalk near the subway station, a white Kia hatchback with a broken front window and a ruptured front tire was observed. A witness’s video captured the chilling moment when the assailant, wearing sunglasses and a black hoodie, calmly walked up an escalator brandishing an object in his hand.
Eyewitnesses described the chaos and panic that ensued as customers and shop workers gathered on the second-floor rails near the escalator to understand what had transpired. Fearing for their lives, they were soon informed that the assailant was making his way to the second floor, prompting a frantic escape. Many sought refuge inside a refrigerated storage room alongside mall employees.
Given the frequency of such attacks, the National Police Agency convened an online meeting with regional police chiefs to strategize ways to combat stabbings and other random acts of violence. During the meeting, Commissioner Gen. Yoon Hee-keun referred to the attack as an almost act of terrorism. One proposed solution was to bolster nighttime patrols in leisure districts and densely populated areas while enhancing security camera surveillance.
This incident follows a similar knife attack last month in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, where a man stabbed multiple pedestrians, killing one person. The motive behind that attack also remains unknown.
As investigations into the two incidents continue, it is crucial for law enforcement agencies to work diligently in protecting the public and preventing further acts of violence. The safety and well-being of citizens must remain paramount, and measures should be taken to ensure security in public spaces throughout the country.
