Hammer-wielding boy stirs false rumors

A photograph of a boy holding a hammer and saw has spawned an urban myth in Daegu about a menacing predator.

The image, taken on an elevator security camera, was leaked and shared online. By Sunday, it had gone viral on social media.

Netizens began spreading rumors that the person in the photograph was a man who makes prey of women. Many who saw the image expressed fear for their safety.

However, Daegu police said the person was a actually a small boy who was running an errand. The child apparently took along the hammer and saw because he was scared of going out alone.

“The man in the photo turned out to be a timid middle school student who was too scared to run on errands late in the night,” said the police.

The police asked people to stop spreading the false rumor.