What charges did prosecutors seek against the Incheon knife attack suspect?

Prosecutors requested an arrest warrant on charges of attempted murder and carrying weapons in public spaces. Police suspect the man tried to kill 10 people with knives attached to both hands.

What was the reported motive behind the Incheon knife attack?

Police said the suspect cited frustration over his medical treatment at a local hospital. He had staged a one-man protest outside the facility for 2 1/2 months since August, and the hospital had reported him to police for possessing a weapon.

How many people were injured in the Incheon knife attack and what was their condition?

Eight people were injured, and one remained unconscious after suffering cardiac arrest. Two other people escaped unharmed, while the suspect was accused of targeting 10 people at the commercial complex.

Suspect in Incheon knife attack attends arrest warrant hearing

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Summary

A 59-year-old man accused of attacking people at a commercial complex in Incheon on Tuesday attended an arrest warrant hearing at the Incheon District Court on Friday at 2 p.m. Prosecutors requested a warrant on charges of attempted murder and carrying weapons in public spaces. Eight people were injured, including one who remains unconscious after cardiac arrest, while two others escaped unharmed. The suspect apologized and said he had made a serious mistake.

Key Facts

The suspect allegedly attempted to kill 10 people using knives attached to both hands at the Incheon shopping complex.
The suspect has 10 prior convictions, including two for attempted murder.
Police said the suspect cited frustration over medical treatment at a local hospital as the motive and had staged a one-man protest outside the facility for 2 1/2 months since August.
The hospital previously reported the suspect to police for possessing a weapon during his protests.
The court was expected to decide on the arrest warrant as early as Friday evening.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 16, 2026 4:39 pm KST

A 59-year-old man, center, arrives at the Incheon District Court, Friday, to attend his arrest warrant hearing over a recent knife attack in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province. Yonhap

A man accused of injuring eight people in a knife attack at a commercial complex in Incheon earlier this week attended an arrest warrant hearing on Friday.

The hearing began at 2 p.m. at the Incheon District Court after prosecutors requested an arrest warrant for the suspect on charges of attempted murder and carrying weapons in public spaces.

The 59-year-old man is suspected of attempting to kill 10 people with knives attached to both of his hands at the shopping complex in Incheon, just west of Seoul, on Tuesday. The attack left eight people injured, including one who remains unconscious after suffering cardiac arrest. The two others escaped unharmed.

The suspect reportedly has 10 prior convictions, two of them attempted murder.

"I am sorry," the suspect said while walking toward the court for his hearing, noting he has made a serious mistake.

According to police, the man has cited his frustration over his medical treatment at a local hospital as the motive for the attack. He had staged a one-man protest in front of the hospital for 2 1/2 months since August. During those protests, the facility had reported him to the police for possessing a weapon.

The court was expected to make its decision as early as later Friday.

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