In a shocking incident that unfolded in a bustling leisure district near a subway station in Seongnam, South Korea, a man went on a stabbing rampage at a shopping mall, leaving at least 14 people wounded. This marks the second mass stabbing incident to hit the country within a month, raising concerns among the authorities and the public.
According to Yoon Sung-hyun, an official from the southern Gyeonggi provincial police department, the chaos erupted when the assailant plowed his car onto the sidewalk before swiftly exiting the vehicle and launching a stabbing spree on unsuspecting victims. The ferocious attack left five individuals injured by the car and an additional nine wounded from the stabbing onslaught.
Quick to respond, authorities at the scene managed to apprehend a suspect in his twenties, whose motive remains unknown at this point. Law enforcement agencies, including the National Police Agency, are diligently investigating the incident to uncover the underlying factors contributing to this act of violence.
The severity of the situation was evident as two of the wounded individuals have been urgently hospitalized, both in serious condition, as confirmed by Ha Dong-geun, an official at Gyeonggi’s provincial fire department. Forensic units were seen combing through the AK Plaza halls, where the series of stabbings took place, in an effort to gather vital evidence.
A witness, Hwang Hee-woon, recounted the horrifying moments leading up to the attack. People had gathered on the second-floor rails, following the sound of distress from the first floor. Suddenly, panic swept through the crowd when news spread that the perpetrator was heading toward the second floor. In a desperate attempt to safeguard their lives, they scattered in fear. Hwang himself found refuge in a refrigerated storage room alongside terrified mall employees.
This incident comes on the heels of a similar knife attack in Seoul just a month ago, where at least four pedestrians were stabbed, tragically resulting in one fatality. The National Police Agency, striving for prompt action, held an online meeting with regional police chiefs to discuss measures to combat such random acts of violence. Commissioner Gen. Yoon Hee-keun referred to the incident as “virtually an act of terrorism,” highlighting the gravity of the situation.
In light of these unsettling events, officials are exploring heightened nighttime patrols in leisure districts and other crowded areas, as well as bolstering security camera surveillance throughout the city. These initiatives aim to ensure the safety and security of the public, providing peace of mind in the face of these disturbing crimes.
As the investigation unfolds, the entire nation looks for answers and strives for preventing such incidents in the future. The resolve to combat these senseless acts of violence persists, reinforcing the commitment to a safer and more secure society.
