[Anchor]
Choi Choong-rak, who is accused of indiscriminately swinging a weapon at citizens in a large commercial building in Incheon, has been sent to the prosecution in custody. When reporters asked if he had anything to say, Choi responded, "I am sorry to the victims."
Reporter Jeong Jiyeon has the details.
[Reporter]
59-year-old Choi Choong-rak carried out a knife rampage at a large commercial building in Guwol-dong, Incheon.
Choi, whose identity has been publicly disclosed, exited the Incheon Namdong Police Station without covering his face with a hat or mask.
[Choi Choong-rak : (The victims are unconscious; do you have anything to say?) I am sorry to the innocent victims. (Who do you consider to be innocent victims?) Everyone who was there.]
Police transferred Choi in custody this morning (October 23) on charges of attempted murder and carrying a weapon in a public place, stating, "There was at least a conditional intent to commit murder."
Earlier, Choi was known to have stated during police questioning that while he did swing the weapon, he had no intention to kill.
Out of the 10 people attacked during the knife rampage on October 13, 8 were injured, and a 19-year-old woman who was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest has not yet regained consciousness.
It was also found through police investigations that Choi stated, "I targeted people who seemed weaker than me," and "I had considered a daycare center as a target for the crime." However, when reporters asked if it was true that he considered children as targets, he gave no answer.
The police plan to make an all-out response to successive violent crimes, including efforts to relieve public anxiety caused by this knife rampage and prevent copycat crimes.
(Camera footage by Yang Hyun-chul | Video editing by Kim Jong-tae)
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