Police have applied for an arrest warrant for a driver accused of ramming members of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Division of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) with a car, causing casualties.
The South Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency's metropolitan investigation unit said on the 22nd that it applied for an arrest warrant on murder charges for a driver in his 40s, identified only by the surname A.
Police said A is suspected of driving a 2.5-ton(t) truck out of the CU logistics center (Jinju Center of BGF Logistics) in Jinju, South Gyeongsang, on the 20th and running over one Cargo Truckers Solidarity member who tried to block the vehicle, killing the person and injuring two others.
A is a nonmember not affiliated with the Cargo Truckers Solidarity and reportedly came in as a substitute driver as the strike dragged on.
Police arrested A at the scene on charges of aggravated assault. However, they changed the charge to murder, determining there was conditional intent. Police said A continued driving despite recognizing the risk of death.
However, A reportedly told police, "The scene was chaotic and I only drove because I thought I had to get out quickly; I had no intention of intentionally injuring anyone."
Police also applied for arrest warrants for two Cargo Truckers Solidarity members on charges including obstructing the performance of special official duties during an assembly.
A member in his 60s, identified as B, is accused of driving a van into a police barricade in front of the CU Jinju logistics center at about 1:33 p.m. on the 20th, then charging toward the center's main gate and injuring officers.
A member in his 50s, identified as C, is accused of attempting self-harm with a bladed weapon or threatening police at the protest site in front of the CU Jinju logistics center at about 10 p.m. on the 19th.