Latest news with #TakahiroKarasawa
Korea Herald
4 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Delivery worker stages bomb threat after late deliveries
Disgruntled employee posts fake threat online, calls police pretending to have found it A fast food delivery worker who staged a bomb threat after being scolded has been placed in detention, police officials of Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, said Thursday. Officials said the court issued a warrant for the suspect's formal arrest, citing risk of him fleeing. The suspect was arrested at around 4 p.m. on Sunday, three hours after making a fake threat of setting up explosives inside a fast food restaurant in Suwon. The suspect is accused of writing an online post at around 1 p.m. on Sunday that read: "The delivery is late and the employees are rude. I'll set up an explosive here." He then reported the case to police, on the pretext that he had just found the threat himself. The hoax forced the evacuation of some 400 people inside the building, with a SWAT team searching the venue for over an hour and a half. Officials tracked down the ID of the person who wrote the post and found that it was the delivery person who first alerted the authorities about the threat. The suspect, a delivery worker for the same restaurant, told police that he held a grudge against his superiors after being repeatedly reprimanded for late deliveries. He is facing charges of obstruction of performance of official duties by fraudulent means, along with interference with business. Police are also mulling whether to apply a public intimidation charge, under a recently enacted law that punishes those who issue threats to the public with up to five years in prison or a 20 million won ($14,300) fine. There have been a number of fake threats involving explosives at public places recently. A bomb hoax on Aug. 5 about supposed explosives inside a department store in Seoul turned out to have been posted by a 13-year-old boy. On Aug. 10, a person claimed to have set up explosives inside the KSPO Dome in Seoul, the venue for concert of boy band The Boyz, with the suspect still at large. The fax that carried the threat on the concert was found to have been sent from a number in Japan. South Korean police are reportedly considering the possibility that the culprit in the concert venue threat may be the same person as the one who has been sending fake threats against public facilities here since August 2023, also using Japanese numbers. The individual or individuals behind these threats used the name of Takahiro Karasawa, a practicing lawyer in Japan, leading the lawyer to publicly complain about his name being misused on X.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bomb threat targets U.S. Embassy in Seoul during South Korean Liberation Day celebrations
On Korea's Liberation Day, August 15, the US Embassy in Seoul notified the Seoul Metropolitan Police of a possible bomb threat. Authorities confirmed that the Embassy received an email about 5 a.m. KST alleging that "a highly-explosive bomb has been installed in a public facility frequented by numerous visitors." The alert spurred immediate cooperation between the Embassy and local law enforcement to analyze the situation and protect the public. Police investigations indicate that the email was sent under the name of Japanese lawyer Takahiro Karasawa. This name has appeared repeatedly in recent fake bomb threats across South Korea. Reports suggest that in 2023, members of an online political community exploited the name, associating it with a fictitious cult leader and issuing hoax terror threats to public institutions. A spokesperson for the Seoul police said according to AllKpop, "We are examining this case in connection with previous threats that used the same name and similar phrasing." So far, no explosives have been found in any of the targeted public facilities. Recent string of threats The August 15 incident follows a series of similar warnings in recent weeks. Over the past weekend, the KSPO Dome in Seoul received a bomb threat just hours before K-pop group The Boyz were scheduled to perform the final show of their 'The Blaze' world tour. Around 2,000 concertgoers were evacuated, but no explosive devices were discovered. The Boyz concert was reportedly delayed due to a bomb threat. Earlier in August, authorities received alerts at the Seoul Foreign Resident Center on August 7 and at Gwangju's Shinsegye Department Store on August 11. Both incidents were also confirmed as false alarms, with no explosives found. Authorities urge caution While no immediate danger has been detected, police continue to investigate the series of hoax threats and their possible connections. Officials are urging citizens to remain alert, especially during public events or national holidays, and are closely monitoring high-traffic venues for safety. The repeated misuse of a single alias underscores the growing challenge of online-fueled hoaxes and false alarms. Law enforcement continues to work to identify those responsible while keeping the public informed and safe. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
The Star
12-08-2025
- The Star
Series of bomb scares in South Korea raises security concerns
SEOUL: Following a spate of bomb threats across South Korea, most of which turned out to be hoaxes, police say they are confronting the challenge of treating every report as a potential real danger while facing heightened public anxiety. Between July 4 and Aug 11, eight bomb threats were reported to authorities, seven of which were made over the course of one week. All were determined to be false after police inspections. On Aug 11, police officials in Gwangju received a bomb threat claiming that an explosive device had been planted at Lotte Department Store in Seo-gu, despite no such store being located in that district. Special operations units were deployed to search department stores nearby, such as the Lotte Department Store in Dong-gu and the Shinsegae Department Store in Seo-gu. According to authorities, no explosives were found after further searches. On Aug 10, a concert held by The Boyz was delayed for two hours after an anonymous bomb threat against the venue was sent by fax. The concert was cleared to go ahead at around 4pm after the police concluded that the threat was a hoax. According to the police on Aug 11, the bomb threat sent to the concert venue was traced to the same fax number used in an earlier warning of a sulfuric acid attack against students on Aug 7. Both threats were sent under the name 'Takahiro Karasawa', a Japanese lawyer. Since August 2023, a total of 44 faxes and emails, including threats made by those claiming to be Karasawa and other Japanese lawyers, have been recorded by authorities. All related cases have been referred to the police cybercrime unit, which is working with Interpol and Japanese authorities to identify the sender. Five other bomb threats were also made last week, targeting department stores, a public swimming pool and a gaming company's headquarters. According to the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), special forces responded to a total of 943 reports of terrorism-related threats, such as bomb threats, from 2023 to the first half of 2025. This is more than double the total number of incidents recorded from 2015 to 2021, at 395 cases. Police say the surge in bomb hoaxes is putting an unsustainable burden on special operations forces. Each report requires the deployment of units specifically trained for high-risk scenarios, including bomb disposal squads, K9 units and tactical forces, tying up resources for hours at a time. 'Even if the reports are suspected to be a hoax, the police cannot afford to take chances,' a KNPA official told The Korea Herald. 'However, every false alarm drains manpower and equipment that could be used to respond to genuine emergencies.' Such repeated, large-scale responses can also increase public anxiety. 'Even if people know that many such threats are fake, the sheer frequency can create a sense among the public that something must be wrong in society. Or it can create something quite the opposite, where the public grows less cautious of terrorism threats and doesn't respond with the appropriate attentiveness,' Professor Kwak Dae-kyung from Dongguk University's Department of Police Administration told The Korea Herald. 'Both scenarios pose a general threat to civil security in Korea.' Experts warn that weak penalties for making false threats may embolden offenders. According to the public intimidation law, which was only passed in February, offenders can face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won (S$18,500). However, according to the KNPA's data, only 1 in 10 suspects have been arrested in relation to that law. Of those arrested, 77 per cent have been referred to prosecutors, while the other cases have not moved forward. 'Considering the manpower and resources these cases actually consume, the current punishment is far too lenient to deter future offenders,' Prof Kwak added. 'The law needs to reflect the seriousness of the disruptions caused. Stronger legal measures, such as raising the maximum sentence and introducing mandatory restitution to cover the cost of emergency responses, may also be needed to deter these hoaxes.' - The Korea Herald/ANN
Straits Times
12-08-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Series of bomb scares in South Korea raises security concerns
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Police say the surge in bomb hoaxes is putting an unsustainable burden on special operations forces. SEOUL - Following a spate of bomb threats across South Korea, most of which turned out to be hoaxes, police say they are confronting the challenge of treating every report as a potential real danger while facing heightened public anxiety. Between July 4 and Aug 11, eight bomb threats were reported to authorities, seven of which were made over the course of one week. All were determined to be false after police inspections. On Aug 11 , police officials in Gwangju received a bomb threat claiming that an explosive device had been planted at Lotte Department Store in Seo-gu, despite no such store being located in that district. Special operations units were deployed to search department stores nearby, such as the Lotte Department Store in Dong-gu and the Shinsegae Department Store in Seo-gu. According to authorities, no explosives were found after further searches. On Aug 10 , a concert held by The Boyz was delayed for two hours after an anonymous bomb threat against the venue was sent by fax. The concert was cleared to go ahead at around 4pm after the police concluded that the threat was a hoax. According to the police on Aug 11 , the bomb threat sent to the concert venue was traced to the same fax number used in an earlier warning of a sulfuric acid attack against students on Aug 7. Both threats were sent under the name 'Takahiro Karasawa', a Japanese lawyer. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore raises 2025 economic growth forecast but warns of uncertainty from US tariffs Business StarHub buys rest of MyRepublic's broadband business in $105m deal; comes after Simba buys M1 Singapore Telco price undercutting expected to subside after sale of M1 to Simba: Analysts World After tariff truce extended, a Trump-Xi summit in China? Opinion For Singapore, the AI revolution is coming just in time Asia Death of student in Sabah raises hurdle for Malaysian PM Anwar as he faces tough state polls soon Opinion Sumiko at 61: Hearing loss is linked to dementia risk. Here's what you risk by ignoring it Business S'pore start-up among 5 global picks for Japan construction group Kajima's mentorship and funding Since August 2023, a total of 44 faxes and emails, including threats made by those claiming to be Karasawa and other Japanese lawyers, have been recorded by authorities. All related cases have been referred to the police cybercrime unit, which is working with Interpol and Japanese authorities to identify the sender. Five other bomb threats were also made last week, targeting department stores, a public swimming pool and a gaming company's headquarters. According to the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), special forces responded to a total of 943 reports of terrorism-related threats, such as bomb threats, from 2023 to the first half of 2025. This is more than double the total number of incidents recorded from 2015 to 2021, at 395 cases. Police say the surge in bomb hoaxes is putting an unsustainable burden on special operations forces. Each report requires the deployment of units specifically trained for high-risk scenarios, including bomb disposal squads, K9 units and tactical forces, tying up resources for hours at a time. 'Even if the reports are suspected to be a hoax, the police cannot afford to take chances,' a KNPA official told The Korea Herald. 'However, every false alarm drains manpower and equipment that could be used to respond to genuine emergencies.' Such repeated, large-scale responses can also increase public anxiety. 'Even if people know that many such threats are fake, the sheer frequency can create a sense among the public that something must be wrong in society. Or it can create something quite the opposite, where the public grows less cautious of terrorism threats and doesn't respond with the appropriate attentiveness,' Professor Kwak Dae-kyung from Dongguk University's Department of Police Administration told The Korea Herald. 'Both scenarios pose a general threat to civil security in Korea.' Experts warn that weak penalties for making false threats may embolden offenders. According to the public intimidation law, which was only passed in February, offenders can face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won (S$18,500). However, according to the KNPA's data, only 1 in 10 suspects have been arrested in relation to that law. Of those arrested, 77 per cent have been referred to prosecutors, while the other cases have not moved forward. 'Considering the manpower and resources these cases actually consume, the current punishment is far too lenient to deter future offenders,' Prof Kwak added. 'The law needs to reflect the seriousness of the disruptions caused. Stronger legal measures, such as raising the maximum sentence and introducing mandatory restitution to cover the cost of emergency responses, may also be needed to deter these hoaxes.' THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
