Police raid eight groups over violent rally

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sun, December 3, 2023 | 15:32

Police raid eight groups over violent rally

경찰 '폭력시위주도' 민노총 등 8개단체 압수수색

Posted : 2015-11-21 08:50

Updated : 2015-11-22 00:57

Police barricade headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) in Seoul, Saturday. / Yonhap

Police searched Saturday for members of eight groups who led the massive downtown rally on Nov. 14 that turned violent, injuring more than 200 people including police officers and protesters, Yonhap reported.

Police searched 12 offices including the headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) that organized the rally and seized computers and leaflets.

It is the first time in almost two years since police deployed forces _ about 500 police officers _ at the KCTU in December 2013 when it moved to arrest the leaders of the railroad unions.

Police are investigating whether some of the groups helped Han Sang-gyun, 53, head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU), who is taking shelter at Jogye Temple in Seoul, to flee.

He has taken shelter at Jogye Temple to evade execution of a previously issued arrest warrant. That warrant was for organizing earlier illegal rallies.

Along with Myeongdong Cathedral, the temple has long been a safe haven for social activists on the run as police are reluctant to exercise their authority on religious domains.

On Nov. 14, members of the nation's 53 labor and farmers unions and civic groups staged a 12-hour rally to protest the government's move to introduce state-authored history textbooks and labor reform, among other issues.

경찰 '폭력시위주도' 민노총 등 8개단체 압수수색

이달 14일 서울 도심에서 열린 민중총궐기 집회에서의 과격·폭력시위를 수사 중인 경찰이 21일 민주노총 등 집회 주최 단체의 사무실을 동시다발 압수수색했다.

    서울지방경찰청은 이날 오전 7시30분부터 중구 정동의 민주노총 본부를 비롯해 민주노총 서울본부, 금속노조, 금속노조 서울지부, 건설산업노조, 건설노조, 플랜트노조, 공공운수노조 등 8개 단체의 사무실 12곳을 압수수색해 PC와 유인물 등을 확보하고 있다.

    경찰이 민노총 본부에 공권력을 투입한 것은 2013년 12월 철도파업을 주도한 철도노조 지도부 체포를 위해 강제 진입을 한 이후 1년11개월 만이다.

    이날 압수수색에는 남대문서와 서부서, 영등포서 등 3개 경찰서 소속 경력 500여명이 투입된 것으로 알려졌다.

    경찰에 따르면 이들 단체는 집회 당시 장시간 도로를 점거한 채 사전에 준비한 쇠파이프와 철제 사다리 등으로 경찰관을 폭행하고 경찰 장비를 손괴하는 등의 과격·폭력 시위를 주도한 혐의를 받고 있다.

    경찰은 또 이들 단체 가운데 일부가 조계사에 은신 중인 한상균 민노총 위원장의 도피를 도운 혐의도 받고 있어 이와 관련한 증거물도 확보할 방침이라고 전했다.

    경찰 관계자는 '이들 단체는 14일 불법 폭력 시위를 주도한 혐의를 받고 있으며, 배후 단체 증거 확보를 위해 증거물들을 압수하고 있다'고 전했다. (연합뉴스)

janee@ktimes.com

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