Schizophrenic Chinese arrested over random attack

A Chinese man with schizophrenia allegedly attacked a passerby with an umbrella Sunday in Sillim, in southern Seoul. gettyimagesbank

By Lee Gyu-lee

A Chinese man was arrested Sunday for allegedly assaulting a man who was walking near Sillim subway station in southern Seoul, Gwanak police said.

The suspect, 38, allegedly hit the man with an umbrella about 1 p.m. and continued to assault him when he tried to protest.

A witness told local news outlet MBN that the assailant also bit the victim's hand when he tried to take the umbrella away.

The Chinese man claimed it was an act of self-protection because the victim was following him.

Police said they discovered that the suspect is a schizophrenia patient.

He was taken to the National Center for Mental Health for “emergency hospitalization” for three days and will undergo a psychiatric evaluation.