21 Oct 2008

Six die in knife frenzy in South Korea

6:12 am on 21 October 2008

A man has gone on a knife-wielding rampage in the capital of South Korea, Seoul, that left six people dead and at least seven wounded.

The BBC reports he set fire to an apartment building and then attacked the residents as they fled the blaze.

Police said five of the victims were stabbed to death while another died after trying to escape by jumping from a fourth-floor window.

The man, 31, identified only by his family name of Chung, was arrested.

Police said he had been out of work since April and had been unable to pay his rent and other bills.