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US ambassador attacked, wounded in Seoul

March 5, 2015

The US ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, has been injured by an armed attacker in Seoul. The bleeding envoy was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

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Südkorea US-Botschafter Lippert Angriff
Image: picture alliance

Pictures broadcast by Yonhap News Agency showed Lippert, bleeding from his head and wrist, walking through a doorway on Thursday morning.

It said Lippert's attacker was wielding a razor and shouted for the reunification of the rival Koreas. A suspect was arrested at the scene.

The White House said Lippert's injuries are not life threatening and that President Barack Obama called Lippert to wish him a speedy recovery.

Lippert became ambassador in October last year. The attack comes amid renewed tensions between North and South Korea over Seoul's annual joint military exercises with the US, launched this week.

jr/bw (AP, dpa, AFP)