World

South Korea: ‘One dead’ and 12 injured after man carries out car and knife attack in Seongnam

South Korea: 'One dead' and 12 injured after man carries out car and knife attack in Seongnam

One person has reportedly died and 12 others were injured in South Korea after a man drove a car onto a pavement and rammed pedestrians, before he got out and stabbed people in a shopping centre.

Four of the victims were hit by the vehicle near a subway station in the commuter town of Seongnam, about 12 miles (20km) south of the capital Seoul.

A white Kia hatchback with a broken front window and ruptured front tyre could be seen on a pavement near the station.

Nine victims were knifed and pictures from the scene also showed forensic officers examining AK Plaza, where the stabbings took place.

Image:
Rescue workers at the scene of the attack

A man in his 60s died in the attack, Newsis news agency reported.

Police said 12 people had been taken to hospital, but officers did not confirm the condition of the wounded nor whether the person killed was stabbed or run over.

Officers have been questioning an unidentified man suspect in his 20s who was arrested at the scene, said police spokesman Yoon Sung-hyun.

More on South Korea

Police officers cordon off the scene of a stabbing rampage near a subway station in Seongnam, South Korea, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. A dozen of people were injured in South Korea on Thursday when a man rammed a car onto a sidewalk and then stepped out of the vehicle and began stabbing people near a subway station in the city of Seongnam.(Hong Hae-in/Yonhap via AP)
Image:
A police cordon at the scene of the stabbing rampage. Pic: AP

National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun said Thursday’s attack was “virtually an act of terrorism”.

Authorities have not said what the motive was for the attack.

Policemen examine a scene where, according to media reports, nine people have been stabbed and four others hurt by a car driven by the suspected attacker in Seongnam, South Korea
Image:
Pic: AP

Read more from Sky News:
Latest news from South Korea
Mother of US soldier held in North Korea ‘just wants him home’

The National Police Agency met regional police chiefs to discuss ways to deal with stabbings and other attacks against random targets.

Police officers cordon off the scene of a stabbing rampage near a subway station in Seongnam, South Korea, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. A dozen of people were injured in South Korea on Thursday when a man rammed a car onto a sidewalk and then stepped out of the vehicle and began stabbing people near a subway station in the city of Seongnam. (Jo Sung-woo/Newsis via AP)
Image:
Pic: AP

Officials are considering increasing night-time patrols in leisure districts and other crowded areas and stepping up CCTV surveillance, according to the agency.

It comes just days after a man stabbed at least four pedestrians on a street in the capital, Seoul, killing one person.