Death reported after 'stabbing rampage' in South Korea

At least one person has been reported killed after a 'stabbing rampage' in suburb in the South Korean capital, just two weeks after a similar attack killed one person.

According to reports, at least 12 other people were injured, either being stabbed or hit by a car driven by the suspected attacker on Thursday in the commuter town of Seongnam near Seoul.

One person has been arrested, police said in a statement.

The attack took place near the Seohyeon subway station in Bundang, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of Seoul, an official at the National Police Agency told AFP news agency.

Unverified images of Thursday's attack showed what appeared to be a floor stained with blood drops and at least one emergency medical helicopter.

'Safe streets'

One person was killed and three wounded in another stabbing attack in the South Korean capital on July 21.

South Korea is typically an extremely safe country, with a murder rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people in 2021, according to official statistics.

By comparison, the United States has 7.8 homicide deaths per 100,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bundang, an affluent satellite city of Seoul, generally has a reputation for safe streets and residential neighbourhoods but the two stabbings triggered concern online.

"The attack (near the) Seohyeon station is really terrifying," one wrote on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X.

"How can we feel safe and comfortable going outside with incidents like this happening?"

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Source: TRT