Nine hurt in Incheon stabbing rampage; woman in cardiac arrest hospitalized after surgery

Police said Tuesday that nine people were victimized in a knife attack at a large commercial complex in Woldong, Namdong-gu, Incheon.

Of the eight injured, a woman in her 20s was rushed to hospital in cardiac arrest and underwent surgery. She is currently in intensive care.

The other seven victims — men and women in their 20s to 50s — were transported to hospital by emergency services and are receiving treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The total victim count of nine includes one person whose clothing was torn while being threatened by the suspect, identified only by his surname A. The 59-year-old was subdued by bystanders at the scene before police took him into custody.

The Incheon Namdong Police Station arrested A on charges including attempted murder and is investigating him. He had already been booked last month on suspicion of carrying a bladed weapon while staging a one-person protest outside a hospital in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon.

According to the police investigation, A entered the building's first floor with a knife gripped in each hand, both secured with white tape, then took an elevator to the second-floor restaurant area, where he began his attack.

He then moved up an escalator to the third floor, slashing at strangers as he went.

He attempted to reach the fourth floor, where a movie theater is located, but found the entrance blocked with chairs. He returned to the third floor, where bystanders threw chairs at him and brought him down.

A was also found to be carrying an additional blunt weapon and a bladed weapon, as well as a large quantity of drugs. Police plan to ask the relevant authorities to determine whether the substances are psychotropic medications.

"We plan to apply for an arrest warrant on Wednesday after investigating A's motive and other details," a police official said.

A had previously been convicted of attempting to murder his ex-wife and served a four-year prison sentence. He was wearing an electronic ankle monitor as a result of that conviction at the time of Tuesday's attack.

The Ministry of Justice said that roughly four hours before the attack, A received alcohol addiction counseling and psychological consultation from an outside specialist for one hour starting at 10 a.m. He then met with a probation officer at around 11:20 a.m. for a 35-minute session, after which the two had lunch together until 12:30 p.m.