Police Apply for Arrest Warrant for Man in His 30s in Eunpyeong-gu Weapon Disturbance Case

Police: "Bipolar disorder treatment 4 years ago... Family financial dispute suspected as cause"

A man in his 30s who caused a disturbance while armed with weapons in both hands in the middle of a residential area in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, was found to have been treated for bipolar disorder in the past but is currently not taking medication.

A residential area in Galhyeon-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, the scene of the incident on the evening of the 26th where a man holding weapons in both hands was subdued after a standoff with the police, is being cordoned off.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Eunpyeong Police Station in Seoul stated on the 27th, "Mr. A, a man in his late 30s suspected of obstructing official duties, received treatment for bipolar disorder four years ago but is not currently on medication," adding, "The motive for the crime appears to be a family dispute over money." The police applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A on charges of obstructing official duties that day.

Mr. A was arrested on the spot on suspicion of obstructing official duties around 10:05 p.m. after nearly three hours of standoff with the police while holding a weapon in the parking lot on the first floor of a six-story villa building in Galhyeon-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, starting from around 7:30 p.m. the previous day. The police said that it has not yet been confirmed through investigation whether Mr. A had an altercation with another person.

The police deployed 21 special forces members and the violent crimes unit to the scene. Since Mr. A threatened to harm himself by pointing the weapon at his chest, the police subdued him through negotiation without using restraint equipment such as a taser (electroshock weapon). No one was injured during Mr. A’s disturbance.

The police calmed Mr. A by providing chicken and soju to build mutual trust and encouraged him to put down the weapons on the ground.

Mr. A was carrying a total of eight weapons, including six kept in a bag, all of which the police have confiscated.

At the time, Mr. A was intoxicated, and it was reported that he had been drinking near the incident site. He tested negative in a rapid drug screening test for substances such as methamphetamine.

During the police investigation, Mr. A stated, "I was thinking of self-harm," and regarding the eight weapons he possessed, he said, "I acquired them 10 years ago while working as a chef and carried them in my vehicle for fishing." All the weapons were kitchen knives and are not subject to registration as firearms, cannons, or swords.

The police stated, "So far, there is no connection between any murder threat posts and Mr. A’s crime," and added, "We plan to conduct forensic analysis on his mobile phone."

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