A local man caused panic at a busy intersection in Kerobokan this morning after he brandished a knife and stabbed a motorist in rage. Police say they have arrested the culprit after a video of the incident went viral.
In a one-minute clip received by Coconuts Bali this morning, a man wearing all-white Balinese traditional attire can be seen prancing around the Semer intersection (one may recognize this site by the airplane statue on the Gate88 building) with a wide smile while holding a knife.
People who took the video, who were all inside a car, were terrified as they saw the man waving his knife around as if he was going to slash the dozens of motorcyclists who were stuck at the intersection. At some point, he approached one motorist – who seemed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time – before punching him and stabbing him in the back.
The victim managed to drive off after the stabbing.
Speaking to Coconuts Bali, Bali Police spokesman Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto stated that the man, identified as PKW, 23, was later arrested by the North Kuta Police.
“According to an eyewitness, the perpetrator was involved in a motorbike crash earlier and became enraged and then threatened and attacked others,” he said.
Stefanus explained that PKW was involved in a motorbike crash earlier this morning with another motorist identified as IKP, 19. IKP reportedly crashed into PKW’s motorbike because the latter ran the red light with one hand holding his cell phone.
(UPDATE: another video depicting the incident went viral. Stefanus confirmed the authenticity of the video).
Despite the incident sounding like it was PKW’s fault, IKP apologized to him anyway. Yet PKW still threatened IKP with his knife. The teenager, who suffered minor injuries to his leg due to the crash, managed to rush away from the scene.
The other victim was identified as KS, 23, who was stabbed by PKW as seen in the video. Police say he has a stab wound on his right shoulder, and he also suffered from shortness of breath and was immediately treated at Mangusada Hospital.
As for PKW, Stefanus said that he has been arrested. The spokesman sent Coconuts Bali a video documenting the arrest.
“The perpetrator is suspected of suffering from a mental illness,” Stefanus said.
