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March 09, 2009
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| Eleven police officers were assaulted and one robbed by protesters at a Saturday anti-government rally over the Yongsan tragedy. Eight demonstrators were arrested and are being questioned in connection with the case. Police said yesterday that a special investigation team has been launched to capture the remaining offenders. According to Seoul’s Hyehwa Police Precinct, over 200 protesters participated in the rally near Seoul Station. In the Yongsan incident, five squatters and a police officer were killed in an eviction gone wrong. At around 9:15 p.m., protesters moved to the Jongno area and encountered a plainclothes police officer identified as Park near Dongdaemun subway station. A protester saw him holding a walkie-talkie and shouted, “There’s a cop!” Park was then mobbed by dozens of protesters and severely beaten. “Most of them looked in their 40s and 50s and some looked homeless,” Park said. His wallet and walkie-talkie were taken. Police found that his credit card had been used to buy a 152,000 won ($98) jacket and a pack of cigarettes. The protesters then moved to Jongno 5-ga and attacked eight riot police officers and a traffic cop. An officer identified as Choi said they took his two walkie-talkies. An officer called Kang had his nose broken. Joo Sang-ryong, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said police will “sternly punish those who engaged in the illegal violence.” By Kim Mi-ju Staff Reporter/ Kim Jeen-kyung JoongAng Ilbo [mijukim@joongang.co.kr] |
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