Explosion Threat at KSPO Dome in Olympic Park Leads to Emergency Evacuation of 2,000 Spectators

Yesterday (10th), a large-scale commotion occurred at the KSPO Dome (gymnastics stadium) in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, following reports of a bomb threat.

According to police and fire authorities on the 10th, after receiving the report, they immediately dispatched to the scene and conducted a thorough search operation.

As a result, a scheduled performance was delayed, and thousands of spectators had to be urgently evacuated. Fortunately, no actual explosives were found, and there were no casualties.

The incident began around 2 PM when the Korea Sports Industry Development agency received a threatening fax.

The fax contained a message stating, "Several high-performance bombs have been installed in various locations within the KSPO Dome. The explosion time is between 4:43 PM and 8:10 PM," written in both Korean and Japanese.

The sender identified themselves as 'Attorney Joo○○', but currently there is no registered lawyer with that name in the Korean Bar Association, leading to suspicions of impersonation.

Police Swift Response, Performance Delays, and Ensuring Audience Safety

Upon receiving the threat, the popular idol group The Boyz, scheduled to perform at the KSPO Dome, delayed their originally scheduled showtime from 4 PM to 6 PM.

Additionally, about 2,000 spectators and officials present at the venue immediately evacuated for safety, an unprecedented situation. Fans, who gathered eagerly for the weekend performance, were taken aback by the sudden evacuation announcement but left the site in an orderly manner.

The police quickly responded by deploying 57 personnel, including mobile patrol units and SWAT teams, to the scene as soon as the report was received.

They conducted a thorough search of the entire stadium for about an hour but fortunately found no explosives and no injuries were reported.

A police official stated, "We are currently tracking the fax sender and investigating the precise circumstances of the incident."

Recent Bomb Threats Increase Public Anxiety

The bomb threat at KSPO Dome has intensified public anxiety, occurring amidst a recent series of similar threats.

On the 5th, there was also a commotion at the Shinsegae Department Store in Myeongdong, Seoul, due to a bomb threat posted online, leading to the evacuation of around 4,000 customers.

The middle school student and the 20-year-old man who posted the threat were apprehended in Jeju and Hadong, Gyeongnam, respectively.

The police have warned that threatening to harm an unspecified number of people is classified as 'public intimidation' and may result in imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 20 million won.

Given the serious social disruption caused by the KSPO Dome bomb threat, the police plan to conduct a thorough investigation to apprehend the perpetrator and hold them accountable.

Image source: News1