South Korea Supermarket Attack: Multiple People Stabbed in Shocking Public Assault

INCHEON, South Korea — Panic erupted inside a busy discount supermarket on Tuesday afternoon, October 13, 2026 after a knife-wielding attacker targeted shoppers in a shocking public assault, leaving at least eight people injured. Emergency services rushed to the scene following frantic calls from bystanders, and police have taken a suspect into custody.

The attack took place at approximately 1:49 PM local time inside the Homeplus Guwol branch in Incheon’s Namdong District. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaotic terror as the assailant unexpectedly began stabbing customers walking through the aisles.

At least eight shoppers were wounded during the violent rampage, with one victim suffering cardiac arrest and receiving critical emergency medical care at the scene before being rushed to a nearby hospital. Paramedics provided immediate first aid to the remaining victims, all of whom sustained varying degrees of stab injuries.

Police responding to the emergency call swarmed the supermarket premises and quickly subdued the suspect. Authorities identified the arrested individual as a man in his 60s.

Law enforcement officers cordoned off sections of the Homeplus store to gather forensic evidence, collect CCTV footage, and interview eye witnesses. The specific motive behind the violent spree remains unclear, and police are investigating whether the attack was targeted or random.

"We responded immediately to the report and apprehended the male suspect at the site. The circumstances, background, and motives surrounding the attack are currently under active investigation," a police spokesperson confirmed.

While violent crime rates in South Korea remain low by international standards, the incident has renewed heightened public anxiety over public knife attacks in crowded commercial areas. Authorities have urged citizens to stay clear of the immediate perimeter as forensics teams complete their initial investigation at the scene.

In response to the incident, city officials and local law enforcement announced plans to step up foot patrols around major transit hubs, shopping centers, and crowded public venues across Incheon. Municipal leaders expressed deep condolences to the victims and their families, assuring the public that extra safety measures are being mobilized while investigators work to determine how such a tragedy occurred in a routine community space.