Eight Injured as Man With Knives Strapped to Both Hands Attacks Shoppers in South Korea

Eight people have been injured after a 59-year-old man allegedly attacked shoppers with knives fastened to both hands at a commercial complex in Incheon, South Korea. A woman in her 20s suffered cardiac arrest and underwent emergency surgery but had not regained consciousness.

The attack happened at about 1:40pm on Tuesday, 13 October, at a commercial building housing a Homeplus supermarket in Guwol-dong, west of Seoul. The suspect moved between floors on an escalator before shoppers threw chairs at him and subdued him. The victims comprised six women and two men.

The suspect was wearing an electronic ankle monitor following his release from prison in 2019. His previous conviction for attempted murder and reported monitoring violations have raised questions about the supervision of offenders after their release.

Shoppers Subdue Suspect After Knife Attack

Police detained the man on suspicion of attempted murder and questioned him about his motive. They planned to seek a formal arrest warrant, Yonhap reported on Wednesday.

Three criminal profilers are assisting investigators in establishing why he allegedly attacked people at the complex. Authorities have not established a motive, and there is no indication that the victims were known to him.

Police found a large quantity of drugs among his belongings. He reportedly told investigators he had taken drugs before the attack, but a preliminary drug test returned a negative result. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances.

Suspect Had Previous Attempted Murder Conviction

The suspect served a four-year prison sentence for attempting to murder his former wife. After his release in 2019, he was ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor for 10 years, until February 2029.

He had previously been punished for breaching restrictions on leaving his home while wearing the device. He was also investigated last month on suspicion of carrying a weapon after allegedly using a kitchen knife to puncture a protest sign outside a hospital in Incheon.

The Justice Ministry said he had been receiving treatment for mental health issues and support for alcohol addiction. On the morning of the attack, he attended a session with an external specialist before meeting his probation officer, who checked whether he had taken his prescribed medication. They subsequently had lunch together.

The ministry said there had been no attempt to damage the monitoring device and no breach of its conditions connected with the attack.

President Orders Review of Monitoring System

President Lee Jae Myung visited the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency on Tuesday evening to receive a briefing from senior officers. His office said he called for a thorough investigation and ordered measures to prevent violent crimes that threaten public safety.

The Justice Ministry apologised for the public concern caused by the attack and pledged to review its electronic monitoring and supervision system, which tracks offenders after their release from prison.

Acting National Police Agency chief Kim Jong-chul also instructed regional police departments to strengthen preventive measures in crowded public places by deploying sufficient officers.

Investigators are continuing to establish the suspect's motive and examine the circumstances of the attack. The ministry's review will assess how people subject to electronic monitoring are supervised.