Police searching Seoul Station after threat to 'stab 50 people on Friday'

Social Affairs

Published: 24 May. 2024, 17:25 Updated: 24 May. 2024, 17:50

Police searching Seoul Station after threat to 'stab 50 people on Friday'

Police officers patrol Seoul Station in Jung District, central Seoul, on Friday morning following an online murder threat targeting the station that was posted on an internet community on Wednesday. In response to the threat, police increased patrols near the station. [NEWS1]

Police are conducting a thorough search of Seoul Station following an online murder threat targeting the site on Friday.

At around 2:40 p.m., an announcement echoed through Seoul Station in Jung District, central Seoul, informing commuters of an ongoing police search to prevent a potential terror attack.

On Wednesday, a post was uploaded to an internet community threatening to "stab 50 people at Seoul Station on Friday.”

The Seoul Jongam Police Precinct obtained a search and seizure warrant for the online community Dcinside. The precinct is seeking crucial data such as access records and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to track down the perpetrator and is currently analyzing the data.

In response to the online murder threat, police increased patrols near the targeted station and intensified efforts to locate the individual behind the threat.

The threat has sparked anxiety among people using Seoul Station, especially considering the previous stabbing incidents that happened less than a year ago.

Last July, a man killed one person and injured three people near Silim station in Gwanak District, northern Seoul, while two people died and a dozen were wounded in a stabbing near Seohyeon Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi.

Lee Soo-Jin, a 36-year-old woman, expressed fear, saying that she believes “threats like this happen more frequently after the stabbing rampage at Seohyeon Station last year.”

“I am more worried since I am with children,” said Yoon Sang-soo, a 49-year-old elementary school teacher from Changwon, South Gyeongsnag, visiting Seoul with his students. He said he plans to leave early upon hearing the news.

Railroad police review CCTV footage at a railroad police office inside Seoul Station in Jung District, central Seoul, on Friday morning for any signs of unusual activity. [NEWS1]

In response to the threat, the Seoul Namdaemun Police Precinct is coordinating with national security agencies and railway police.

Since 8 a.m., the Seoul Namdaemun Police Precinct and Yongsan Police Precinct have been conducting searches near Seoul Station and have requested additional personnel from the railway police.

Police, wearing stab-proof vests, are currently conducting searches in pairs in areas with high concentrations of people.

A police official stated that more officers than usual have been deployed to bolster security.

Officers have also been dispatched to check Gongdeok Station and DMC Station in Mapo, western Seoul, according to the official.

BY JANG SEO-YUN, WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]