Bomb threats over Aussie skating judge

26 Feb 2010, 2:39 pm   -   Source: AAP
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A man has made a bomb threat at the Australian Embassy because he was outraged by a decision made by an Australian skating judge at the Winter Olympics.
 

A Korean man has been arrested in Seoul following a threat to blow up the Australian embassy because he was outraged by a decision made by an Australian skating judge at the Winter Olympics.

The man, known only as Mr Kim, made the threats on Thursday (AEDT) through Korean rail company Korail.

He was traced by his telephone number and arrested.

Staff evacuations

Major Korean internet news website Joins.com reported the embassy was searched for 40 minutes and five staff were evacuated.

Officials at the embassy confirmed the incident with AAP on Thursday (Vancouver time), a staff member saying it turned out to be a hoax but "Korean authorities responded very quickly and it was resolved."

Joins.com reported Kim was angry that Australian short track speed-skating judge Jim Hewish had disqualified the Korean team from the women's 3000m relay final after their last skater crossed the line first here on Wednesday.

The gold went to arch-rivals China.

'Business as usual'

Hewish, who received death threats and prompted a tirade of 16,000 angry emails to the International Olympic Committee after another decision against a South Korean skater in 2002, told AAP it was "business as usual" and he'd be back at the Pacific Coliseum to officiate on Friday.

"As far as we're concerned there was no controversy," Hewish told AAP, not wanting to be drawn any further on the specifics of the incident.

"The Koreans are a bit upset but you know, that's understandable I guess."

Hewish said he had no concerns for his safety but hadn't read website reports and blogs, with some in South Korea calling for him to stand down and others even suggesting a ban on importing Australian goods.

Joins.com reported that Kim came from Gunpo, the same town as Korean Kim Min Jung, the skater who crossed the line first to seemingly win her country gold on Wednesday.
 
 

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