Arrest made after hostage situation

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Arrest made after hostage situation

Police have arrested a 27-year-old man who held up a convenience store in Busan yesterday morning and took a female clerk hostage. The man, identified only by his surname Lee, was apprehended by authorities just two hours after the confrontation.

According to police, the suspect was known to have entered the shop wielding a hammer and other unknown contraband, where he took the 23-year-old clerk hostage.

When officials arrived on the scene 10 minutes later, Lee refused to negotiate the cashier’s release and insisted that JTBC reporters or President Park Geun-hye be informed of his demands.

In the meantime, he apparently went on a rampage in the shop, blocking the entrance with display stands and breaking lamps.

Police eventually called a JTBC reporter to come assist them with the arrest. When the journalist arrived on the scene, Lee asked him to show him his press badge and then told the reporter that he had been falsely charged with attempted murder and that he had been tasered during an investigation. The perpetrator is still being monitored by police.

Police tried to persuade the suspect to come out of the store for two hours, though he refused to negotiate. The JTBC reporter and police drew him closer to the entrance, after which a SWAT team broke through the entrance and the back door of the convenience store. They arrested the suspect at the scene and used a flash bang and tasers to apprehend him.

The hostage was unharmed and taken in an ambulance to a nearby hospital.

The Busan Jin Police Precinct seized the weapons Lee used and is currently investigating his motive. Authorities did not disclose further information about his previous record.

BY KIM BONG-MOON AND WEE SUNG-WOOK [bongmoon@joongang.co.kr]


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