The incident reportedly occurred around 5.30pm in an area of Kuta Beach situated directly in front of the Beachwalk Shopping Mall. Once they arrived on the scene, officers quickly took the knife from HS, who tried to escape by running to the sea. 

“When we tried to secure the knife, he immediately ran to the waters and took a surfing board with him. Officers ran after him and brought him back to the beach, and he was taken to the police station,” a village official from Kuta, I Wayan Wasista, told Detik. 

According to Wasista, the same man allegedly caused a disturbance at Kuta Beach not long ago, though he didn’t have a knife with him at that time. 

I Putu Ika Prabawa from the Kuta Police said that HS’ brother, identified as FAS, has since taken him home. FAS, who is reportedly a seller on Kuta Beach, explained to the authorities that HS was only recently discharged from the Bangli Mental Hospital. 

“He’s been handed over to his brother to be taken home, and we advised him to go see a doctor. We have a kitchen knife as evidence over at the Kuta Police station,” Prabawa said.

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