An earth digger sits on top of stairs leading to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul on Tuesday. [Yonhap Photo]
An earth digger driven by a 45-year-old man went on a rampage Tuesday after charging into the compound of the main office of prosecutors in Seoul, injuring a security guard.
The digger aboard a truck arrived at the prosecutors' office at around 8:20 am (2420 GMT) and broke through its gate towards a building where Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend of South Korea's scandal-stricken President Park Geun-hye, was under questioning, according to press reports.
TV footages showed the digger moving around on the complex and brandishing its steel arm to destroy some external facilities. Firefighters were seen carrying an injured security guard on a stretcher while the man fell on the ground after being overpowered by police armed with electric shock weapons.
Press reports said the man surnamed Chung shouted angry slogans related to Choi, who was placed under emergency arrest shortly before midnight Monday following an investigation by prosecutors.
There has been widespread public distrust over an interrogation by state prosecutors, with civic groups and opposition parties insisting Choi should be questioned by an independent counsel.
The 60-year-old daughter of a religious cult leader who was once seen as Park's anchor is suspected of exploiting her ties with the president to interfere in state affairs without holding any official title.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwllim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
