School hostage suspect says it was 'on God's order'

The school hostage suspect, 25, surnamed Yang, is taken to Bangbae Police Station on Monday. / Yonhap

By Park Si-soo

A man who caught on Monday after taking a teenage girl hostage at a Seoul elementary said he did so “on God's order,” according to police.

The man, 25, surnamed Yang, is being questioned at Bangbae Police Station.

According to Yonhap News Agency, he told police he entered Bangbae Elementary School after a voice ordered him to “take a student hostage, arm yourself and fight against the world.”

He entered through the school gate after introducing himself to a security guard as a school graduate, which turned out to be true. He then took the girl hostage at knifepoint at 11:43 a.m. and held her for about one hour. A police commando team seized him at 12.43 p.m. while he was distracted drinking from a water bottle. The girl was freed unharmed and taken to hospital to be checked.

Police said the man was diagnosed with schizophrenia in July 2013 and had received periodical medical treatment. He holds a state-issued disability card (issued in November 2015). Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by abnormal social behavior and failure to understand reality. The man is known to have been involved in violent incidents three or four times.

According to police, one day before the crime, he worked at Seocho-gu ward office for two-and-a-half hours before returning home to take medicine for his mental problem. On the way, he found a letter from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in his mailbox.

The letter informed him of the ministry's decision to reject his request to be recognized as a man of national merit. The rejection was based on a review of his medical records that showed his mental problem developed before he enlisted.

He became upset, which was when he heard the voice, police said.

Police plan to question the security guard and other officials. They will also seek an arrest warrant for the hostage-taker.