Incheon knife attacker says he targeted people who 'looked weaker' to draw attention

A man in his 50s who injured eight people in a knife rampage at a large commercial complex in Incheon told police he chose his victims because they "looked weaker than me."

According to the Incheon Namdong Police Station on Wednesday, the suspect, identified only as A, 59, was arrested Tuesday on charges including attempted murder. He told investigators he "had grievances against a hospital where he had received treatment, and also against being subjected to a police investigation following a report by the hospital."

A had been booked in September on charges of carrying a knife in a public place. He had also been questioned by the Incheon Gyeyang Police Station in June.

A had been staging a one-person protest outside a hospital in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, since August, after becoming dissatisfied that his athlete's foot had not improved following treatment there. He is believed to have been carrying a knife at the time.

"I committed the crime with the intention of drawing public attention to my grievances," A said, adding that he "did not target anyone specific" and "chose people who looked weaker than me, but had no intention to kill."

Police have deployed three criminal profilers to verify A's claims and are investigating his specific motive. They plan to seek an arrest warrant on charges of attempted murder and carrying a knife in a public place.

Police had initially said Tuesday that nine people were affected by the attack, then revised the figure to 10 on Wednesday.

One of the additional victims was found not to have been injured after the tip of A's knife made contact only with a cigarette pack in his shirt pocket. Excluding that person and another whose clothing was torn, the number of injured remains eight, as previously reported.

"One of the eight — a 19-year-old woman found in cardiac arrest — underwent emergency surgery Tuesday," police said. "Her heartbeat has returned, but she remains unconscious and is unable to breathe on her own, and is currently on mechanical ventilation."

Police added that five others were admitted to hospitals across the city, two sustained minor injuries and are receiving outpatient treatment, and the remaining two were uninjured and have returned home.

A tested negative in a preliminary drug screening, but police have requested a full toxicological analysis from the National Forensic Service to confirm whether any narcotics were involved.

"A has offered an explanation for his motive, but it does not make common sense that someone with a grievance against a hospital would attack strangers at an unrelated commercial complex," a police official said. "We plan to continue the investigation."

Police are also reviewing whether to publicly disclose A's identity.

Authorities said they would convene a review to determine whether releasing A's name and photograph is appropriate, weighing the public's right to know and the potential deterrent effect on crime.

The decision is expected to be made this week through the police identity disclosure review committee, which comprises both internal and external members.

Under the Act on Disclosure of Personal Information of Suspects of Specific Serious Crimes, a suspect's identity may be made public when the crime involved cruel methods, caused significant harm, and the suspect's guilt is sufficiently established.

Disclosure is permitted only when it serves the public interest — including protecting the public's right to know, preventing reoffending, and deterring crime — and must also take into account the wishes of victims.

"We are preparing to hold the review committee meeting this week regarding the disclosure of personal information," a police official said.

Meanwhile, A is believed to have had no steady employment, occasionally taking day-labor jobs.