Police said Friday they will provide tear gas guns to officers on security duty in Seoul, as part of efforts to reinforce countermeasures against violent crimes.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said they requested the National Police Agency to set aside a budget worth 180 million won ($158,800) to purchase gas guns for conscripted riot police and combat police forces stationed in the capital city.
The move comes in the wake of recent violent crimes against random citizens in downtown Seoul, which stoked concerns on public safety.
On Wednesday, a disgruntled former employee went on a stabbing rampage, attacking his former colleagues and passers-by with a knife on a busy street of Yeouido, leaving four wounded.
A riot police officer who was on security duty at a nearby rally could not subdue the suspect as he was only armed with a club and a whistle, the SMPA said. The knife-wielding man was only arrested by an armed police officer who came to the scene upon receiving a notification.
"Security officers will be able to immediately arrest the criminals when violent crimes break out before police officers are deployed to the scene," an officer at the SMPA said.
Conscripted riot and combat officers are those chosen to serve in non-military duties such as providing security in major government-related facilities such as the U.S. embassy and rallies held in the city.
(Yonhap News)
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