Stabbing Suspect Choi Chung-lak Transferred to Prosecutors' Office... "I'm Sorry to Innocent Victims"

Choi Chung-lak, who was detained on charges of indiscriminately swinging a weapon at citizens in a large commercial complex in Incheon, has been handed over to the prosecutors' office.

The Incheon Namdong Police Station transferred Choi, who was detained on charges of attempted murder and carrying a weapon in a public place, to the prosecutors' office today (the 23rd).

Before his transfer, Choi did not answer questions from reporters, such as "Why did you choose a crowded place to commit the crime?" and "Is it true that you considered children as your targets?"

To repeated questions asking, "The victims are in a state of unconsciousness, do you have anything to say?" he replied, "I am sorry to the innocent victims."

When asked, "Who do you think the innocent victims are?" Choi answered, "Everyone who was there."

At the time of his transfer, Choi was wearing a gray athletic suit and boarded a police van without hiding his face with a mask or hat, following the decision to disclose his identity.

Choi is accused of taping weapons to both hands and attempting to stab and kill 10 visitors around 1:48 PM on the 13th at a large commercial complex building in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, which houses a large hypermarket and a movie theater.

Among the citizens attacked with the weapon at the time, 8 were injured, and a 19-year-old woman among them remains unconscious.

During police questioning, Choi claimed, "I committed the crime to attract attention and make news to make (my grievances) known to society," adding, "I did not target specific individuals and chose people who looked weaker than me."

Choi has a criminal record of more than 10 convictions, including two past instances of attempted murder, and was wearing a location-tracking electronic device (electronic anklet) at the time of the crime.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.