Knives Bound to Both Hands, Rampage Leaves Shopping Complex in Chaos

[Anchor]

The suspect in his 50s, surnamed Choi, tied weapons to both hands and indiscriminately attacked people while roaming around a shopping complex. Amid severe chaos and fear, citizens mustered the courage to subdue Choi.

An Huijae will report on the situation at the time.

[Reporter]

Choi went on a indiscriminate stabbing rampage, rampaging through a large multi-use shopping complex.

It was found that he committed the crimes by moving up and down the escalators, starting from the basement level where a large supermarket is located.

Victims emerged everywhere, with six people injured on the second floor alone, including a person in their 20s who suffered cardiac arrest.

The peaceful daytime downtown shopping complex instantly turned into chaos,

[Voice from the scene at the time: ("Victim, victim! Someone is holding a weapon and stabbing right now!" They said he has a weapon, told us to run!)]

[Witness: It was lunchtime, so I thought, "Why is he running like that?" but right after that, I heard screams. He was holding weapons in both hands and keeps swinging them.]

Witnesses reported that weapons were tied to Choi's tightly shut hands as if to prevent them from dropping.

[Witness: They said he tied the weapons to his hands and walked around, both of them. He tied the weapons to his hands with string...]

[Witness: They said he tied the weapons to both sides with bandages. Because he tied them down, people couldn't make him drop the weapons even by striking them...]

Amid intense fear, citizens summoned courage and joined forces,

[Kang Byeong-hun / Witness: While wondering what was going on, suddenly a middle-aged man was standing there holding a weapon from behind. Everyone told each other to pick up chairs, so they all picked up chairs and stood like that, and since he was flustered, he ran away.]

They directly subdued Choi and handed him over to the police.

It was found that Choi, who served a 4-year prison term for attempted murder after swinging a weapon at his ex-wife in 2015, had been wearing an electronic tracking anklet since his release from prison in 2019.

It was found that this morning, Choi underwent professional counseling and a probation officer interview, and even had a meal with a probation officer up until one hour before the crime.

The Ministry of Justice apologized for causing great concern to the public, stating that it will thoroughly investigate the overall management and supervision of electronic anklets and devise measures to prevent recurrence.

Acting National Police Agency Commissioner General Kim Jong-cheol emphasized strict investigation and support for victims, and ordered an all-out response to the act of carrying weapons in public places.

(Video reporting: Lim Dong-guk | Video editing: Kim Jin-won, Design: Kim Han-gil, Jang Seong-beom)

※