Choi Chungrak Passed Through Metal Detector Carrying a Weapon... Probation Office: "We Turned It Off Because It Was Too Noisy"

It was revealed that the metal detector at a probation office visited by Choi Chungrak, 59, before the alleged attack did not work. Choi was arrested on suspicion of attempting to kill 10 people with a weapon at a large commercial facility in Incheon.

According to Incheon Namdong Police Station on October 23, Choi visited the western branch of the Incheon Probation Office, operated by the Ministry of Justice, at around 11:20 a.m. on October 13, about two hours before the alleged attack, and met with a probation officer.

He walked through the metal detector installed at the office with a backpack containing a knife and a blunt weapon, but no alarm sounded. Employees at the office had turned off the detector early this year because of excessive noise.

Choi Chungnak (59), who was arrested on suspicion of wielding a weapon at a large commercial facility in Incheon and attempting to kill 10 people, is transferred from the Incheon Namdong Police Station to the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office on the morning of the 23rd. Yonhap News Agency

The probation officer told police, "The metal detector was so sensitive and made so much noise that I turned it off for convenience while working," adding, "It had not been working at least this year." Choi also said, in effect, "I knew the detector was there, but I had nowhere to leave the weapon, so I brought it with me and got through. Afterward, I was afraid I would be found out."

Lee Byung-cheol, head of the criminal division at Namdong Police Station, said, "It is regrettable that the weapon might have been confiscated if it had been detected during the meeting." He added, "I believe the Ministry of Justice will be asked to investigate the facts, and measures will be taken based on the results."

Police said, however, that they had not booked the probation officers who left the metal detector off on suspicion of dereliction of duty. Lee explained, "The requirements for establishing the crime of dereliction of duty are stringent," adding, "It is difficult to determine whether there was dereliction of duty based on footage obtained in the attempted murder case."

Choi is suspected of attempting to kill 10 shoppers by stabbing them with a knife taped to both his hands at around 1:48 p.m. on October 13, inside the C&C (see&see) building, a large commercial facility in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, which houses a large supermarket and a movie theater.

Eight of the victims were classified as injured, including a 19-year-old woman who is unconscious. The other two were unharmed.

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