Man in hospital gown brandishes weapon near Seoul hospital, no injuries reported

A man wearing a hospital gown was arrested Thursday after brandishing a weapon and threatening passersby on a street near Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

Seoul's Dongjak Police Station arrested the suspect, who is in their 40s, on charges of carrying a weapon in a public place and is investigating the case.

The suspect allegedly threatened people on the street with a weapon around 11:30 a.m. Thursday. No injuries were reported.

The suspect, who had been admitted to Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, is believed to have carried out the act due to drug withdrawal symptoms stemming from alcohol-induced dementia.

The suspect had been experiencing auditory hallucinations since the morning and reportedly grabbed the weapon after becoming convinced that a hospital security guard was trying to harm them, shouting at the guard to stay away.

The suspect has since been placed under protective admission at a psychiatric hospital in Incheon. Police said they plan to continue the investigation without detaining the suspect.