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86 Protesters Apprehended for Storming Court Over Yoon’s Arrest


Seoul: A total of 86 supporters of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol have been apprehended for storming a court and are likely to face severe legal consequences. From Saturday to early Sunday, police arrested the protesters for breaking into the Seoul Western District Court in anger over the court’s decision to formally arrest Yoon for his failed martial law attempt.



According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon’s supporters forcefully entered the court by climbing over walls and breaking windows while hurling plastic chairs, trash, and other objects, and spraying a fire extinguisher at police officers stationed around the building. They were part of an estimated crowd of 44,000 supporters of Yoon who had gathered outside the court Saturday as the impeached president attended a hearing regarding the extension of his detention.



Some protestors engaged in physical altercations with police officers as they tried to breach the court grounds, ignoring repeated warnings from law enforcement that their actions could result in arrest or potentially trigger a crowd crush.



The arrested protesters face charges ranging from minor offenses, such as damaging public property-punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of 5 million won (US$3,400)-to more severe charges. In the most serious cases, they could face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of 15 million won for riot-related offenses.



Earlier in the day, the Supreme Prosecutors Office described the violence against law enforcement and vandalism as “grave crimes” that undermine the rule of law and the judicial system. It has instructed the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office to set up a team to “sternly” address the matter and said prosecutors would work closely with the police on the investigation. Police also formed a special investigation team to probe the incident and determine further actions against those involved. They said they would deal “sternly” with those who broke the law.

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