South Korean teen questioned for rocking high-speed railway
South Korean police are set to question a teenager for allegedly placing a large rock, the size of a brick, on a high-speed railway last week. The incident took place at Singyeongju Station in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang province, where a rail traffic controller noticed the individual trespassing in the restricted area via CCTV cameras. Local reports claim the teenager admitted to wanting to derail a train, with authorities swiftly removing the rock before a high-speed train carrying 116 passengers passed through the section.
The rail traffic controller quickly reported the incident, leading to the timely removal of the rock. It was just moments before a high-speed train travelling at 300 kilometres per hour with 116 passengers on board was set to pass through that section of the tracks. The suspect, whose name and age have not been disclosed, was taken to a juvenile detention centre while the train police prepare to investigate his possible motives further.
The South Korean Railway Police and Korail have both confirmed that the incident took place on Thursday evening last week at around 9pm. The train segment in question is only used by high-speed trains that travel at a top speed of 300 kilometres per hour.
The questioning process will involve the presence of the suspect’s parents or guardians, as the individual is a minor. He could potentially face charges of violating railway safety laws.
