He put the lives of over 100 passengers at risk.
A Korean man in his 60s has been indicted on charges of committing arson inside a subway train in Seoul. The CCTV footage of the incident has left netizens shaken.
The 67-year-old man, surnamed Won, was seen in the security footage pouring gasoline inside a crowded subway train, alarming his co-passengers. As the terrified commuters ran to save their lives, Won set the compartment ablaze.
The incident took place last month on Line No. 5 while the train was still in motion. More than 20 people were hospitalized, and over 120 received emergency treatment. Later, it was confirmed that six passengers had sustained significant injuries, while 23 others, including Won himself, were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
Won is currently facing 160 counts of attempted murder, filed in association with the passengers who were successfully identified. Prosecutors stated that he intentionally targeted the subway train for maximum public attention. His actions were classified as terrorism by the prosecution.
After the court ordered a psychological evaluation of Won, it was found that he showed extreme levels of self-centeredness and delusional thinking. He reportedly committed the arson after being displeased by the outcome of his divorce lawsuit.
Prosecution noted that some passengers who acted quickly to use fire-resistant materials in the train to suppress the flames played a key role in preventing a larger tragedy. The CCTV footage, which was released on June 25, KST, has sent shockwaves, even among international netizens, seeing how calmly Won committed the heinous act and walked away from the scene without a care.
