Unprecedented violence in court... "strict and arrested investigation"

[Anchor]
When an arrest warrant was issued for President Yoon Suk Yeol, supporters of President Yoon stormed into the court building in the Western District Court, where the warrant was reviewed.

They smashed the court's main gate and windows with shields and plastic chairs taken from the police and assaulted police officers, making it difficult to find an example of a constitutional history.

I'll connect you with a field reporter to find out more about the situation. Reporter Bae Minhyuk!

[Reporter]
Yes, it's in front of the Seoul Western District Court.

[Anchor]
What is the current situation?

[Reporter]
Yes, the site is almost organized right now.

, but violent protest sites such as garbage and protest supplies remain intact everywhere, and police remain on high alert near the courthouse.

The protests intensified around 3 a.m. today when news of the issuance of a warrant against President Yoon broke out.

In the video filmed at the time, protesters, who appear to be supporters of President Yoon, cross the wall of the court and scramble to enter the interior through police blockings.

They assaulted the police and damaged windows and court doors with shields and plastic chairs taken from the police.

If you look at the video, it seems that they once entered another floor of the court building.

Protesters also threatened the prosecutors of the Airborne Division who completed the warrant examination last evening, and damaged and threatened the vehicle, such as defusing the tire wheels of the Airborne Division's official vehicles.

In this regard, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit said it should also consider requesting personal protection for investigators and that it will respond strongly to violent acts.

[Anchor]
Are the protesters dispersed now?

[Reporter]
Police put down most of the protesters at around 6 a.m. today, three hours after the Western District Court riot.

A total of 1,400 police were mobilized to suppress the protest.

As the situation intensified, police deployed a task force equipped with body protection suits and batons to draw protesters who damaged objects inside the courthouse.

In the process, it has been confirmed that 35 police officers have suffered minor injuries and 7 have been seriously injured for more than three weeks.

Since then, sporadic clashes have continued at the back gate of the Western District Court, and the police have forcibly dispersed them all.

However, some demonstrators have been sporadically protesting against the police at Gongdeok Small Park near the court.

[Anchor]
Is there a possibility that protests will continue or intensify at the scene?

[Reporter]
Yes, it's a situation of concern.

I've been here since dawn, and it was easy to hear voices calling for a greater number of people to be gathered after the brightness of the day at the scene.

At the time, some protesters could not hide their excitement outside the courthouse, threatening reporters and taking away camera memory cards.

In addition, there were also large and small scuffles, such as pushing passers-by who were not related to the incident to be supporters of the progressive side.

To prevent further damage, police have set up a team dedicated to investigating the violence in the Western District Court.

Police say they have arrested a total of 86 people so far due to illegal violent protests in the Western District Court last night and early this morning.

In addition, more than 10 injuries were reported to the fire authorities during the same time.

The police are dispersing the arrested protesters to the police station in downtown Seoul and investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.

The police plan to respond strictly to the incident, as the court, the last bastion of the rule of law, was attacked, which is unprecedented in constitutional history.

Police are also controlling the two sides of the road and maintaining a vigilance posture based on the court's main gate in case of an emergency.

[Anchor]
The police and the court are also planning to respond strictly to the intrusion?

[Reporter]
Yes, the police held an emergency meeting of the command regarding the 'Western District Law Illegal Violent Protests'.

At the meeting, the police said that illegal violence that cannot be overlooked in the Western District Law occurred, which is a significant challenge to the rule of law and decided to deal with it strictly in accordance with the law.

In addition, based on on on-site evidence, we have established an arrest investigation policy for all illegal actors.

Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Lee Ho-young, who inspected the scene this morning, said he would strictly deal with illegal and violent protests and explained that he would thoroughly investigate the threat of killing judges.

The police said they received a request for personal protection from Cha Eun-kyung, a senior judge at the Western District Court, this morning and will take measures for personal protection starting tomorrow.

In the meantime, the court administration also expressed strong regret over the intrusion into the Western District Court.

The court administration said the breach was a total denial of the rule of law and a significant challenge.

It also said that such a situation should never happen and cannot be tolerated.

Accordingly, the court administration emphasized that thorough fact-checking and strict legal responsibility for the incident should be followed.

I'm Bae Minhyuk of YTN at the Seoul Western District Court.