Sharp Increase in Murder Threat Posts... 54 People Arrested Nationwide (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Following the stabbing incidents at Sillim Station and Seohyeon Station, over 50 people nationwide have been apprehended by the police for posting online "murder threats."

The police have classified murder threats as "serious criminal acts" and "direct threats to public safety," and have decided to detain and investigate individuals if there is evidence of intent to commit a crime, such as preparing weapons.

According to the National Police Agency, as of 6 p.m. on the 6th, a total of 54 individuals who posted murder threats nationwide have been arrested. This marks an increase of 24 people compared to 30 arrests made by 7 p.m. the previous day.

The police apprehended a teenager, identified as A, at home after he posted on Instagram at 5:47 p.m. the previous day, stating, "I will kill 20 people at Gyeyang Station at 7." Another individual who posted a threat to carry out a stabbing at Busan Seomyeon Station was identified as Navy Private B, who was handed over to the military police.

Online murder threat posts began appearing after the stabbing incident at Sillim Station on the 21st of last month and have increased nationwide since the Seohyeon Station incident on the 3rd. Many of the suspects arrested are minors, most of whom have stated that "it was a joke."

The National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency held an emergency video conference at 4 p.m. on the same day with investigation chiefs and deputies from city and provincial police agencies, deciding to actively apply all possible punishments such as intimidation, attempted murder, and obstruction of official duties against those who post murder threats.

Woo Jong-su, head of the National Investigation Headquarters, stated, "We regard posting murder threats as a serious criminal act and are pursuing and arresting the posters to the end. We consider it a direct threat to public safety and will actively detain and investigate if there is confirmed intent to carry out the crime."

The police confirmed that a man in his 20s, Heo, who was arrested on the morning of the 4th for wandering around Seoul Gangnam Express Bus Terminal with a weapon, had posted murder threats on social media, and added charges of attempted murder, detaining him that day. Another man in his 20s, Lee, who posted a "Sillim Station murder threat" on the 24th of last month and attached a screenshot of an online weapon purchase, was also detained.

The police believe that unnecessary public authority is being wasted in tracking and arresting the posters and plan to actively consider charges of obstruction of official duties. Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok also instructed at an emergency meeting on strict response to serious violent crimes that "in addition to intimidation charges, actively apply all possible criminal laws such as attempted murder and obstruction of official duties."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.