Arrest warrant issued for assailant in random stabbing

A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant Sunday for a man who went on a deadly stabbing rampage near Sillim Station in western Seoul on Friday.

Cho, a suspect who went on a stabbing rampage near Sillim Station in Gwanak District, southern Seoul, and killed one man and injured three others, is surrounded by reporters in front of the Seoul Central District Court ahead of a court hearing. The court later issued an arrest warrant for him. [YONHAP]

A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant Sunday for a man who went on a deadly stabbing rampage near Sillim Station in southern Seoul on Friday.

The 33-year-old suspect, surnamed Cho, wielded a knife at a bustling street near Exit 4 of Sillim Station in Gwanak District Friday afternoon, killing a man in his 20s and injuring three other men. The suspect and victims were complete strangers.

The Seoul Central District Court issued the arrest warrant Sunday afternoon after determining there was a concern that Cho might flee. Cho is accused of murder and attempted murder.

Pedestrians fled the scene when they spotted Cho, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, going on a stabbing rampage around 2:07 p.m. Friday.

The three injured men, all in their 30s, were hospitalized and one was seriously wounded.

Cho was apprehended by police on the spot at around 2:13 p.m. and held in custody.

Earlier Sunday, Cho told reporters as he left the Seoul Gwanak Police Station to attend the court hearing that he had committed the crime due to "extreme hardship" and that he repents his reactions.

"I committed the crime due to my extreme hardship," Cho said when asked by reporters why he committed the crime. "I am repenting."

He said he had been in a "bad situation" but didn't elaborate on what difficulties he had been facing.

"It was very wrong of me," he said. "I am a useless person. I'm sorry."

Cho is a repeat offender with three prior criminal charges including assault and has been investigated by the police more than 14 times as a juvenile delinquent.

Gwanak police said that Cho testified that he had lived an unhappy life.

He said, "I wanted to make others miserable, and I committed the crime out of anger."

Cho also told police he chose the alley near Sillim Station because he had visited the area several times to drink with friends before and knew that it was a crowded place.

The police have requested the Korea Communications Standards Commission to delete CCTV footage of the stabbing rampage that has been circulating online to prevent secondary damage inflicted on victims.

One victim has been released from the hospital, while the other two are still undergoing treatment, police said.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]