Successive 'Bomb Threat' Emails Sent to Gwangju Courts in Jeonnam

Threatening Emails Claiming "Homemade Bombs Planted... Will Detonate" Sent to Gwangju High Court and Family Court
No Suspicious Items Found During Searches by SWAT and Authorities

Police and fire authorities conducted searches after threatening emails claiming homemade explosives had been planted were sent in succession to the Gwangju High Court and Gwangju Family Court.

On the 26th, a report was received that an employee of the Gwangju High Court in Jisan-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, received a threatening email about a bomb installation. The police and fire department are conducting a search. Provided by Jeonnam Gwangju Fire Headquarters

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency and Dongbu Police Station, at approximately 12:09 p.m. on August 26, a report was received that a threatening email regarding the placement of explosive devices had been sent by an employee of the Gwangju High Court, located in Jisan-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju.

The email stated, "I have installed homemade bombs using acetone in and around the Gwangju High Court. I will detonate them between 1:34 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (or 8:30 p.m.)."

Later, at around 1:28 p.m., a similar bomb threat email was received by an employee of the Gwangju Family Court in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju.

Upon receiving the reports, the police immediately deployed an initial response team, the police SWAT unit, and more than 40 firefighters to conduct a detailed search of the court's main and annex buildings, courtrooms, and surrounding areas for over an hour.

As a result of the search, no hazardous materials or suspicious items were found, and the police ended the search. Since no actual explosives were discovered, there was no need for evacuation within the courthouse and judicial operations such as trials continued without interruption.

The investigation revealed that the threatening email was sent via a Japanese IP (Internet Protocol) address. It was also confirmed that similar threats of the same format were sent simultaneously to major courts nationwide, including Incheon District Court, Daejeon High Court and Family Court, and Cheongju District Court, as well as Gwangju.

To prepare for any contingencies, the police significantly strengthened patrols around court buildings. The Cyber Crime Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is consolidating the threatening emails received nationwide and is currently tracing the sender’s identity and the exact distribution route.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.