A British man in his 30s accused of stabbing a female acquaintance at a university in Seoul was arrested in Britain nine days after leaving South Korea, the Korean National Police Agency said on October 10. He was detained at a residence on October 8 local time through cooperation with British authorities.
The man is suspected of attacking a woman in her 20s at about 11:50 a.m. on September 29. Police said he swung a knife twice and wounded her in the neck before departing the country. The victim suffered a relatively minor injury and was reported to be in no danger of losing her life.
- Incident
- September 29 at about 11:50 a.m.
- Location
- A university in Seoul
- Arrest
- October 8 at a residence in Britain
- Victim's condition
- Neck injury reported as not life-threatening
Korean police issued an Interpol Red Notice after the suspect fled overseas. Investigators subsequently confirmed that he had entered Britain and worked through a Korean police liaison officer stationed there to identify his location.
The arrest was carried out with assistance from the National Extradition Unit under Britain's National Crime Agency. The case shows how an international alert, confirmation of cross-border travel and direct coordination with a specialized extradition unit can narrow the search for a suspect who has left the country where an alleged crime occurred.
International coordination led investigators to the suspect
The man faces an allegation of attempted murder in South Korea, but his arrest in Britain does not by itself complete his return. The next development to watch is the process for transferring him to South Korean custody, which will require continued coordination between law enforcement and other relevant authorities.