Gyeongnam Police Arrest Two Men in Their 30s Who Threatened Mass Shooting and Knife Rampage

The Cyber Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency announced on the 13th that they have apprehended two men in their 30s who posted threats of mass shootings and knife attacks on an online community.

According to the provincial police cyber investigation unit, a man in his 30s identified as A is accused of posting on an online community on the 4th that he would kill 18 people with a shotgun at a certain cosmetics store at 2 p.m. on the 5th.

The police began an investigation after receiving a citizen report about a post stating, "No knife fights, shotgun party," and arrested A at his residence in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province on the 9th, detaining him on the 11th.

The shotgun has not been found, according to reports.

The apprehended A reportedly stated, "I posted the false message because I found it amusing to see site users deceived or reacting, and I wanted attention," adding that "the post was inspired by the knife attack incident at Seohyeon Station on the 3rd."

Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

On the 10th, the police also arrested a man in his 30s identified as B who posted in an online game chatroom, "I will stab people at 2 p.m. in Eunhaeng-dong, Daejeon."

B reportedly stated that he wrote the post out of anger over losing an item (tool) during the game.

A provincial police official said, "Even if murder threat posts made online to gain attention are just pranks, they cause widespread anxiety and fear, and the deployment of police resources to prepare for potential incidents results in a waste of public authority."

He added, "The police will focus investigative efforts on murder threats that incite social unrest and respond sternly."