Police raid home, office of U.S. envoy attacker

All News 08:28 March 06, 2015

**Terror attack on U.S. ambassador**

Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong speaks during a parliamentary hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul on March 5, 2015, about a terrorist attack on U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert. An activist cut Lippert's face and wrist with a 25-centimeter knife as the ambassador was preparing to give a lecture at a function in Seoul earlier in the day. The assailant shouting anti-war slogans was immediately arrested while Lippert was rushed to a nearby hospital. (Yonhap)

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**Terror attack on U.S. envoy in Seoul**

Doctors hold a news conference at Severance Hospital in Seoul on March 5, 2015, after U.S. ambassador Mark Lippert's surgery. In a terror attack at a forum, Lippert sustained five cuts, including an 11-cm-long, 3-cm-deep gash extending from his chin to the right cheek. Doctors said Lippert's left arm and fingers were also wounded, though there was no damage to Lippert's key facial organs, such as the nerves and salivary glands. There was, however, a minor wound to the nerves in his left pinky finger. Lippert received more than 80 stitches and will need to remain hospitalized for three to four days. A knife-wielding assailant, identified as 55-year-old Kim Ki-jong, attacked the envoy while he was having breakfast at an event in downtown Seoul where he was to give a lecture. (Yonhap)
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SEOUL, March 6 (Yonhap) -- Police said Friday they are searching the home and office of a South Korean man who slashed U.S. Amb. to South Korea Mark Lippert on the face and wrist to protest the ongoing military drills between the two allies.

**Seoul regrets terror attack on U.S. ambassador**

Noh Kwang-il, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaks to a news conference in Seoul on March 5, 2015. He expressed shock and regret over the knife attack on U.S. Amb. to South Korea Mark Lippert, vowing to step up safety protection for foreign envoys and embassy facilities here. A progressive 55-year-old activist cut Lippert's face and wrist with a 25-centimeter knife as the ambassador was preparing to give a lecture at a breakfast function in central Seoul. The assailant shouting anti-war slogans was immediately arrested while Lippert, bleeding, was rushed to a nearby hospital. The U.S. State Department said his injuries are not life-threatening and strongly denounced the violence. (Yonhap)
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In an unprecedented attack against the U.S. envoy here, Kim Ki-jong, 55, attacked Lippert with a 25-centimeter-long knife Thursday, leaving a deep gash from the envoy's right chin to cheek that required more than 80 stitches.

**Attack on U.S. envoy in Seoul**

Kim Ki-jong is apprehended immediately after he attacked U.S. Amb. to South Korea Mark Lippert at a forum at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts in downtown Seoul on March 5, 2015. The 55-year-old used a knife to cut Lippert's face and wrist, saying he was against the ongoing military drills between South Korea and the United States. Lippert was preparing for a lecture at the time. The envoy was rushed to a nearby hospital, and the attacker was arrested immediately. (Yonhap)

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None of the wounds were life-threatening but had the cut on his face been deeper, it would have touched his carotid artery and potentially been serious, doctors said.

**Terror attack of U.S. envoy in Seoul**

Shown is a file photo of Kim Ki-jong (R) staging an anti-U.S. rally in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. The 55-year-old attacked U.S. Amb. to South Korea Mark Lippert at a forum at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts in downtown Seoul on March 5, 2015. He used a knife to cut Lippert's face and wrist, saying he was against the ongoing military drills between South Korea and the United States. Lippert was preparing for a lecture at the time. The envoy was rushed to a nearby hospital, and the attacker was arrested immediately. (Yonhap)
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Authorities dispatched dozens of police officers to seize documents and hard drives from Kim's home, which doubles as an office, in the western Seoul district of Seodaemun. They said the items will help them learn how Kim planned for the attack. They also intend to illuminate whether he had an accomplice. Police have also been issued a warrant to obtain Kim's phone records.

Kim had reportedly told the officers that he plotted the attack to stop the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises that kicked off earlier this week. The exercises are part of Seoul and Washington's effort to better deter threats from North Korea. Kim also said he had no accomplices.

Police are considering various charges for an arrest warrant, including attempted murder, which should be requested by this day.

The attack happened just four minutes upon Kim's entry to a breakfast event, where he was not invited and where Lippert was to give a speech. Witnesses said the attack happened as Lippert was telling event participants that he would like to have his second child here.

Authorities said the U.S. envoy had not been one of the personnel requiring 24-hour guarding. The U.S. Embassy had also not requested bodyguard service, they added.

Lippert, 42, became the youngest-ever U.S. envoy to Seoul last year. His wife gave birth to a son here, to whom they gave a Korean middle name.