A 59-year-old man stabbed eight people on Tuesday at a shopping mall in Incheon, South Korea, authorities reported. Among the victims, one woman in her 20s was critically injured and underwent surgery at a nearby hospital. The incident unfolded as the suspect moved through multiple levels of the mall, attacking shoppers before being subdued by store owners and bystanders.

Incheon, located west of Seoul and home to South Korea’s main international airport, is part of the greater Seoul metropolitan area. Police from the Namdong District said they detained the man at the scene and are investigating the motive and circumstances of the attack.

Witnesses described the suspect as having knives tied to both hands, which he used to carry out the stabbings indiscriminately throughout the mall. The victims included six women and two men, all of whom received medical attention.

Officials from the Justice Ministry disclosed that the suspect has a history of violent offenses and mental health challenges. He had previously served a four-year prison sentence for attempted murder and was released in 2019. Since then, he was required to wear an electronic monitoring anklet and was undergoing treatment for mental illness and alcohol addiction.

The police continue their investigation as they assess the suspect’s background and the motives behind the assault. There has been no official statement on whether the attack was premeditated or motivated by personal grievances. Authorities have confirmed the suspect remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.