Claims of Injustice on SBS Program... Disclosure of Travel Time and Location at the Time
Police Verifying Identity of Citizen Allegedly Pushing People During Disaster
On the 7th, citizens visiting the memorial space in front of Exit 1 of Itaewon Station, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, are paying tribute to the victims. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The man nicknamed the 'Rabbit Headband' who was accused of deliberately pushing citizens at the scene during the Itaewon tragedy claimed that he is being subjected to a witch hunt. This man has also filed lawsuits against some netizens.
A, identified as the 'Rabbit Headband man,' appeared on SBS's "Unanswered Questions - The Tragedy of Halloween, the Ignored SOS Episode" on the 5th and stated, "I filed lawsuits against those who posted my face without mosaic and used insulting language. I went to the police station and submitted evidence."
Immediately after the Itaewon tragedy, unverified claims spread on social media (SNS) and online communities, such as "A group of five or six people started pushing people" and "A man wearing a rabbit headband shouted to push."
Some netizens even circulated A's unmosaicked face online and did not hesitate to use insulting expressions.
As the controversy grew, A revealed KakaoTalk messages and photos exchanged with friends on the day of the tragedy, as well as transportation card payment records. According to the transportation card records disclosed by A, he is estimated to have boarded at Itaewon Station at 9:55 p.m. on the 29th and alighted at Hapjeong Station at 10:17 p.m. The crush incident occurred around 10:15 p.m. that day.
CCTV footage from the Itaewon area showed his location was right in front of the accident site, and the time was when he could pass through the alley without any issues.
A repeatedly expressed his innocence, insisting that he did not push anyone that day. He said, "Naturally, many acquaintances and people who saw the news are very angry because of the accident, so they have a strong desire to find the culprit," but added, "The police and detectives are currently doing their best to catch the person with the rabbit headband." It is reported that the police are currently conducting additional identity verification on other citizens suspected of pushing people at the time, besides A.
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